- On the Morning of Christ's Nativity (1980) high voice, organ 5'
- Text: John Milton, from On the Morning of Christs Nativity (1629)
- Commissioned by Kurt R. Hansen
- Premiere—1980 by Kurt Hansen and Grigg Fountain, Evanston, IL.
Text
Hodie Christus natus est.
Peacefull was the night
Wherin the Prince of light
His raign of peace upon [the] earth began:
The Windes, with wonder whist,
Smoothly the waters kist,
Whispering new joyes to the milde ocean.
Ring out ye Crystall sphears!
Once bless our human ears
And let your silver chime
move in melodious time.
Program Note
My first commission (!), this song originally had a baptismal theme. This contrafactum broadens its scope a bit, drawing lines freely from Milton's famous Ode.