Choral literature played a major role in Adolphus Hailstork’s early inspirations, as he grew up singing in choirs. While in college, he created this beautifully plaintive madrigal, setting the words of Orlando Gibbons’ familiar “The Silver Swan.”

The result is a strikingly powerful new setting, a perfect partner to the iconic work from the Renaissance, and an early glimpse of Hailstork’s magnificent career filled with choral and vocal music.

THE SILVER SWAN is in a traditional tonal langua...