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 language and scored for a cappella SATB chorus without divisi, making it easily within reach of choirs of all levels.