Lux Illuxit Laetabunda

Released in 1989 on the Kirkelig Kulturverksted label, Lux Illuxit Laetabunda represents a bridge between traditional liturgical music and contemporary Nordic sensibilities. The album was recorded in collaboration with the Chœur Grégorien de Paris, bringing an authentic grounding in Gregorian chant to the project. It emerged from a period in the late 1980s when Norwegian composer Henning Sommerro was exploring the intersections of sacred chant and modern arrangement, seeking to treat ancient manuscripts with a sense of living, breathing reverence rather than museum-piece detachment.

The design and conceptual direction were heavily influenced by the label's ethos, which frequently sought to pair spiritual traditions with high-fidelity, atmospheric production. Sommerro’s approach was to frame the Latin liturgy within a soundscape that felt expansive and ethereal, a departure from the strictly austere renditions popular at the time. Upon its release, the recording was recognized for its evocative, almost cinematic quality, standing as a testament to the label's willingness to champion projects that defied easy categorization within the secular or classical spheres.