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Born in Massachusetts, Horatio Parker was organist of Trinity Church, Boston, before becoming Professor of Music at Yale University, where his pupils included Charles Ives. His Easter anthem “Light's Glittering Morn Bedecks the Sky” opens with a series of triumphant fanfares followed by a lyrical bass solo; the Easter hymn “The Strife Is O'er” is heard in the background, which leads into the closing passage of victorious “Alleluias.”
lyrics
Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky;
Heaven thunders forth its victor cry;
The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
And groaning hell makes wild reply,
While he, the king, the mighty king
Despoiling death of all its sting,
And trampling down the powers of might,
Brings forth his ransomed saints to light.
That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When to their longing eyes restored
The apostles saw their risen Lord:
He bade them see his hands, his side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
These tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again.
O Jesu, king of gentleness,
Do thou thyself our hearts possess,
That we may give thee all our days,
The tribute of our grateful praise.
O Lord of all with us abide,
In this our joyful Eastertide,
From every weapon death can wield,
Thine own redeemed forever shield.
The strife is o’er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won,
The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia.
All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God, the Father be,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Alleluia. Amen.
Fifth century Latin hymn,
translated by John Mason Neale (1818–1866)
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