This Is the Hour of Banquet and of Song

The music world was saddened by the death of this talented composer this fall. This stirring Communion anthem is the last work DeLong produced for CPP/Belwin. Written in strophic form, the first statement of the well-known text by Horatius Bonar is presented by the women. The men's voices follow, and then all join together for a moving a cappella third verse. The final verse features a soaring descant over the sturdy hymntune. Here is a melody that will linger for years to come.