Composed and Arranged by Kevin Siegfried
Soprano Solo, SATB Chorus (divisi) unaccompanied

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. -Kevin Siegfried

Contents:
1. Sweet Angels Come Nearer
2. Woben Mesa Crelana
3. Lovely Angels
4. Vum Vive Vum
5. O Niske Vane
6. Beautiful Treasure
7. With My Blessing I Have Blessed You

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