Commissioned by the William Ferris Chorale for their 20th Anniversary Season and first performed by them on 27 March 1992 at Mount Carmel Church, Chicago, Illinois, conducted by William Ferris. Consisting of two sections, slow (Amen) and fast (Alleluia), the relevant word is gradually built up from its component syllables. The second section is a gradual progress from a quiet light texture to a blazing final cadence.