The song appears to have originated with American and Canadian voyageurs or fur traders traveling down the Missouri River in canoes and has developed several different sets of lyrics. By the middle of the 19th century, the song had become a sea shanty heard or sung by sailors in various parts of the world. Despite its worldwide familiarity, its haunting, poetic words still harken back to a time when unknown adventures may ensue “far away” when “we’re bound away across the wide Missouri.” This particular setting was written in 1971 by James Erb (1936-2014) for the University of Richmond Choir. Performed by the Grande Prairie Singers on May 30, 2026.

Performed by the Grande Prairie Singers on March 21, 2026. Directed by David L. Brunner. Distinguished composer Morton Lauridsen’s (b. 1943) setting of a nocturnal poem by James Agee reflects a growing gratitude for the beauty and wonder of nature. Composer, performer, and educator, Lauridsen is a National Medal of Arts recipient and was composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 1994 to 2001.

So the glass took hold of the light And spun it with threads of the cobalt sky, And the ruby floss of the dying sun. Then with a shuttle of lead calms, A weft of pot metal And a warp of molten sand and ash, It wove the brittle, fragile cloth of glory. Grande Prairie Signers Artistic Director David L. Brunner (b. 1953) wrote that it was “both a privilege and an honor” to write a work commissioned by his students at Central Florida University to honor all those involved in and affected by September 11. Mike Harding’s poem “A Little Book of Stained Glass” provided the inspiration as it spoke of the creation of “something new, beautiful and radiant out of bits of lead, molten sand and ash, and to finally, with warmth and assurance as the glass 'takes hold of the light’.”

Performed by The Grande Prairie Singers on March 21, 2026. Directed by David L. Brunner. Matthew Harms, oboe. Margaret Daly, cello. Written by Italian composer Ennio Morricone (1928-2020), the music is the main theme of the 1986 movie “The Mission” starring Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. Since then, it has been arranged and performed by numerous artists. In 2010, Morricone encouraged New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra to write lyrics for the piece.

Performed by The Grande Prairie Singers on March 21, 2026. Directed by David L. Brunner. Composed in 2000 by Eric Whitacre (b. 1970), with its inspiration coming from an English poem “Light and Gold,” and on a commission from the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. The song gained fame when 185 singers from 12 countries recorded and uploaded their videos, which were synchronized and combined into one single performance in 2011.