Our director, Prof. J. William Jones, obviously loved this selection as did we, and here he used it as the 'Festival Anthem' for the 1959 "Feast of Lights" annual Christmas festival at the University of Redlands. As usual, he chose a bombastic piece as the final anthem before the candle lighting, and we, as University Choir members mischievously called these perennial selections, 'Jonesaganzas!" I hope you'll also be caught up in this joyous youthful celebration of many Christmastides.
The University of Redlands annual Christmas festival, "The Feast of Lights", is still celebrated today at the university these many years after its initial performance in 1947. Professor Jones developed this presentation earlier in his career in the East as the Choirmaster of the Albany, N.Y., All Saints' Episcopal Cathedral, and then choral director at other churches in the area before coming to California in 1943.
Emery, Wilfred J., 1904-1964
Organist and master of music, Glasgow Cathedral.
The Glasgow Cathedral Choral Society was founded in 1938 by Wilfred J. Emery who was then the Director of Music at Glasgow Cathedral.
"And I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, honour, and power be unto the Lord our God!
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a great white throne and Him that sat thereon. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, and voices, saying,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. I fell at His feet to worship Him.
Alleluia!
And His eyes were as a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns.
And He hath on his vesture, and on His thigh, a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Amen."
From the Revelation of St. John 19-1.
