Upon reading Edward Esch's poem Light and Gold, composer Eric Whitacre was immediately struck by its genuine, elegant simplicity. He asked the celebrated American poet Charles Anthony Silvestri to translate it into Latin for this seminal work for mixed choir a cappella. A simple approach was essential to the success of the work, and Whitacre waited patiently for the tight harmonies to shimmer and glow, weaving a rich choral tapestry of light and the soft singing of angels for the newborn child. A Christmas text, but the effect is timeless.