Angel of Light

Angel of Light is based entirely on Shaker texts and tunes. In contrast to my previous choral arrangements of Shaker music, the original sources in this cantata are treated with more compositional liberty. Throughout Shaker history, angels have played a significant role as messengers of guidance, strength, encouragement, and inspiration, often manifesting through the medium of song.

Angel of Light is rooted in a distinctive period within Shaker history, commonly referred to as the “Era of Manifestations.” This extraordinary phase began in 1837, when Shaker communities found themselves swept up in an intense wave of spiritualism. While Shakerism had always contained visionary elements, these phenomena became notably more pronounced after August 1837. It was during this time that young girls residing in the Shaker community of Watervliet, New York, began entering trances and recounting visions. The fervor sparked at Watervliet swiftly spread throughout every Shaker community. Over the ensuing decade, the Shakers experienced a remarkable outpouring of visionary songs, dances, and art.

With its origins in ecstatic singing, the Shaker repertoire from the Era of Manifestations is truly unique. Songs, hymns, and anthems from this period moved effortlessly between English and the unknown tongues of angels and visiting spirits. Angel of Light seeks to create a musical space to explore the many facets of this visionary repertoire. Movements 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 incorporate vocables and enigmatic, otherworldly languages. While initially these words may appear unintelligible, their beauty and meaning emerge in performance.

I.
Sweet angels come nearer,
O nearer and nearer,
Do list to our pleadings
For strength from on high.

Sweet angels come nearer,
O nearer and nearer.

II.
Woben mesa crelana plorada sele
Meclana predale plorada sele
Meclana predale plorada sele
Meclana predale plorameda sele

III.
O see the lovely angels,
O see them all around;
O hark, and hear their music—
Blessed, blessed sound.

Lo vana blance vone
I le vasse nee
They are S O U N D ing
The trump of jubilee.

IV.
Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo
Ve vum vive vum vive vum vum vo
Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo
Ve vum vive vo ve vum vum vo

Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo
Vive vive vive vive vum vum vo
Vum vive vum vive vum vum vo
Ve vum vive vum ve vum vum vo

V.
O niske vane, niske vane
I am an angel of light from the holy Selincekane.
O niske vane, niske vane
I have come to bring glad tidings of joy to the house of Israel,
and bring from your dwelling a spirit of peace, of meekness and love.
O niske vane, niske vane
So draw near, all ye people, and bow low,
the angels surround you with thousands of blessings,
and their sweetest praises sound.
O niske vane, niske vane

VI.
O the beautiful treasure laid up for the wise,
How precious the value, how glorious the prize.
Far brighter than diamonds on prince’s brow,
And richer than royalty can bestow.

VII.
With my blessing I have blessed you, O my children!
With my comfort I have comforted you;
Yea, with my love I have loved you.
Vo o vo nee, O harka e on a se

With my union I have joined, O my children!
With my courage I’ve encouraged you,
Yea, with my strength I have strengthened you.
Qua on qua o, O larka ree anna so

By my wisdom I have guided you, O my children!
With my beauty I have beautified you.
Yea, with my light I’ve illumined you.
Yea, with love I have loved you.
Vo o vo nee, O harka e on a se
Qua on qua o, O larka ree anna so

Choral Score - ECS #8778

Available separately:

Sweet Angels Come Nearer - 8779
Lovely Angels - 8780
Vum Vive Vum - 8781
O Niske Vane - 9251
Beautiful Treasure - 8782
With My Blessing I Have Blessed You - 8783