Earlier this December I attended a concert by a local choral group, Upper Valley Voices. The promotional blurb for this concert series was “Sometimes it gets dark. And in darker times it becomes vital that we allow ourselves to be drawn together to share our light with each other. We must radiate hope, joy, love, peace & purpose”.

Even though these videos are sung by different choirs I’d like to share two of the pieces I heard that evening that continue to move me as we in the Northern Hemisphere head into winter.

Happy Solstice!

Season of Light
music and text by Jacob Narverud (b. 1986)

Come, sit by the fire, and share stories of old
Bright visions of time and of wonders, we’re told.
Surrounded by comfort and stillness of night
We live in the memories of the season of light.

Come join in the cheer of the fresh falling snow,
where wonder and radiance set hearts all aglow.
For a moment on earth all that’s wrong turns to right
and we’re warm in the spirit of the season of light.

Glow
music by Eric Whitacre (b. 1970), text by Edward Esch (b. 1970)

Softly falls the winter snow,
whispers to the sleeping world below:
“Winter tide awakes,”
morning breaks and sets the Earth aglow.

In gentle tones of warmest white,
Proclaim the glory of Auroroa’s light.
Sparrow sings in a clear, clean voice,
a sweet, silver carol for the season born.
Radiant wings as the skies rejoice,
Arise and illuminate the morn.

Softly falls the morning snow.
whispers to the sleeping world below:
“Glow, like the softly falling snow”