Originally composed as a meditative recessional, "Gloria" blends three elements: quiet, sustained choral singing; Franz Gruber's STILLE NACHT melody; and a gradual and inevitable thinning of vocal, then instrumental sound to silence. The choir writing is often in 8 parts, the handbell part is not difficult but spans a five octave set.

Voicing: SATB divisi, opt. Children's Choir
Instruments: Organ, Handbells