Quiet reverence! Radiant announcement! John Parker's text is sheer poetry, with its vivid images of the Messiah who comes to awaken a dark world lying in slumber. Larry Shackley's dramatic music is full of brooding intensity, with richly flowing triplet figures in the accompaniment and solid vocal writing that shifts from awe-inspired stillness to awe-filled majestry: "Lift up your hearts! Messiah is at hand!" Perfect throughout the season, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, in 2 voicings.