“O, Gladsome Light“ by Eli Tamar

The performance from the concert program “Music of the New World“ in Vladimir City, Russia, as a part of the III international music festival of contemporary American Music, “Spread New Music to the World,“ sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Russia. 🎥 Watch the entire concert at 🎵 Performed by: Maria Zubova, soprano Marianna Visotskaya, organ “O, Gladsome Light ’’ was composed by Eli Tamar for countertenor Andrey Nemzer (Metropolitan Opera soloist) in 2011 as part of the score for the film “Leningrad’’ (2014), about the siege of Leningrad during WWII. The piece is based on the words of the ancient Christian hymn “Phos Hilaron’’, with sections in Greek, Latin, and Church-Slavonic. The original version of the composition is for countertenor and string trio. LYRICS: O Light gladsome of the holy glory of the Immortal Father, the Heavenly, the Holy, the Blessed, O Jesus Christ. Having come upon the setting of the sun, having seen the light of the evening, we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God. Worthy it is at all times to praise Thee in joyful voices, O Son of God, Giver of Life, for which the world glorifies Thee.