Angels we have heard on high

Benjamin Harlan took undergraduate and graduate degrees in theory and composition from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, after which he completed his doctoral degree in Church Music and Conducting at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Following academic appointments at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he assumed the position of Director of Music at University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Harlan foreshortens the traditional tune Gloria by omitting an eighth note pulse, setting the tune in 7/8 throughout. The piano accompaniment is spirited yet not overpowering. The homophonic choral writing is fairly conventional, although Harlan has a few well-timed harmonic twists. Generally, though, the music is not particularly challenging. Most experienced choirs could pick this anthem up in short order to fill out a program with an ebullient bit of Christmas cheer.