This Is the Hour of Banquet and of Song [Alf:00-GCMR03643]

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.