About the film

‘a man, an island, and music that moves the world’  

Shining Night offers a glimpse of the life and music of one of the greatest living choral composers, Morten Lauridsen, a National Medal of Arts recipient who spends summers on a remote island in the San Juan Archipelago and whom musicologist Nick Strimple distinguishes as ‘the only American composer in history who can be called a mystic’.

Exploring the relationship of art, nature, and spirituality, Shining Night reveals the composer through the lens of his love for the natural world together with his passion for music and poetry, interwoven with commentaries from composers, conductors, singers, and friends.

‘a heartening rarity’
Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal

Filmed between 2010-2011 in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Aberdeen, Scotland, and Waldron Island, the documentary conveys the richness and breadth of the award-winning composer’s life, with a soundtrack featuring his masterworks- Lux Aeterna, O Magnum Mysterium, Nocturnes (including Sa Nuit D’Ete, Soneto de la Noche, and Sure On This Shining Night, Madrigali and Dirait-on. 

‘Mesmerizing’
Thomas May, Seattle Times

Winner of four Best Documentary awards since its 2012 premiere in Palm Springs, the film is screened throughout the world, often hosted by choral festivals and choirs featuring the film in a program of Lauridsen music.  Shining Night, co-produced by Michael Stillwater and his wife Doris Laesser Stillwater, offers a rare encounter with music that inspires humanity, conveying a spiritual transmission to singers and audiences alike.

Sure On This Shining Night
by Morten Lauridsen

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  • "...a feast for eyes, ears, heart and soul."

    Fr. John Ball, All Faith Episcopal Parish, St Michaels, Maryland

  • "...completely blown away, touched to the core... "

    Rita Glassman, Cantor, San Francisco

  • "Simply stunning!"

    Paul W. Schulz, Artistic Director and Founder, Northwest Repertory Singers

  • "Conveys the musical legend and the gentle, introspective genius."

    Eric Whitacre, composer/conductor

  • "Watching 'Shining Night' reminded me why I'm alive."

    - Taylor, film viewer

  • "...a thing of such beauty and stillness, it touches upon eternity"

    Robert Reilly, Author, Surprised By Beauty

  • "...stunningly meditative"

    Krista English, director, Peterborough International Film Festival

  • "A visually ecstatic film...music which stuns"

    Don Schwartz, CineSource Magazine

  • "A masterpiece!"

    Kay Pollak, Film Director, Oscar-Nominated 'As It Is In Heaven'

  • "Exquisitely beautiful...so stunning I wept all the way through."

    Jo-Anne Silverman, Victoria, BC, Canada

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  • "A first-class documentary on a distinguished composer with sumptuous cinematography and gorgeous music"

    Toby Symington, Lloyd Symington Foundation

  • "Gorgeous filmmaking and beautiful music from a contemporary genius, Shining Night is a must-see for those who love the performing arts!"

    Steve Weiss, No Festival Required, Phoenix, AZ

  • "...a calming, spiritual treat, offering a rare encounter with music that inspires humanity and conveys a spiritual transmission to singers and audiences alike"

    Salt Spring Island Film Festival, BC, Canada

  • "A stunning visualization... the sheer beauty of the film matches that of the choral masterpieces featured in the film"

    Nick Hart-Williams, Director, Big Green Film Festival, Bristol, UK

  • "Top-notch documentary- an astonishing piece of work concerning a talented individual. Photography was outstanding and the scenery and subject matter was exquisite."

    Jim Lebherz/ Amazon Review

  • "...this portrait of the composer as genius/mystic/sea-shaman delivers the same delicious satisfaction as does reading an artist’s compelling autobiography, collection of letters, or coming across a hidden cache of their recordings."

    Mary Trainor-Brigham, author, Deep Cinema

  • "A world-class film documenting an equally world-class composer. A 'must have'."

    Z. Randall Stroope, American composer-conductor

  • "Illuminates the person behind the music, giving us a rare glimpse into its creative source."

    Tim Sharp, Executive Director, American Choral Directors Association

  • "One of the most remarkable and moving pieces I have ever seen- moving to tears both ourselves and others we have introduced it to."

    Art Kaemmer M.D., Saint Paul, MN

  • "In its measured pace, reverent air, and sincere, comforting tone... Shining Night resembles nothing so much as its sincere subject and his emotionally direct, soothing music."

    Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch

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  • "Shining Night provides enormous insight into Lauridsen's work capturing much of the essence of both the sound and structure of his art, and why it touches listeners and performers so deeply."

    Grant Gershon, Music Director, Los Angeles Master Chorale

  • "I have never heard anything more moving, including the music of Bach and Beethoven. Extremely inspiring; absolutely stunning. Its transcendence is magnificent. Made me openly weep in the theatre. I didn't care"

    John Neff, former bassist, Steppenwolf; musician/engineer, Portland, Oregon

  • "Shining Night is an exquisitely beautiful, elegant, and inspiring film ... a profound and tender reminder of the power and importance of connecting with the numinous dimensions of life."

    -Jeremy Geffen, MD / author, Journey Through Cancer

  • "The strength of Shining Night is Stillwater's decision to allow us to hear extended sections of Lauridsen's most famous works, sung in rehearsal and in final performance."

    -Anne Richardson / Oregon Movies A-Z

  • "...the first time I've been truly engaged (in a documentary) with the connection between the physical/spiritual geography of a place, and the music created by someone intimate with that place."

    -John Hamilton Kelly, Geographer, Kansas City, Missouri

  • "Magnificent music, cinematography, and commentary! Thanks to Shining Night, America's premier composer of choral music receives a tribute that underscores the power of his music to elevate the spirit and create community."

    -Kevin Starr, National Humanities Medalist 2006

  • "...a look into the window of Morten Lauridsen's mind, a profoundly spiritual man. His music is a beautiful gift shared over and over around the world. I am convinced his music will be performed centuries from now. Don't pass up a chance to see this movie."

    -Film Viewer, Los Angeles, California

  • "Shining Night documents the sounds in the atmosphere when the earth was being formed. It is the melody of the spheres discovered in depth consciousness. In the fine net of his art, Stillwater has captured the unnamable. We loved the film and recommend it highly."

    -Stephen and Ondrea Levine, authors, A Year To Live, New Mexico

  • "I cannot express how wonderful your film was. As each chapter began, I thought to myself, 'Oh thank God: it's not over yet!' Your concept of revealing the inner song in each person is much needed in our hustling and distracting world."

    -film viewer, Los Angeles

  • "The care and craft of presentation and the luminosity of the photography work in harmony with the music to create a layered experience that is both journey and meditation."

    -Joyce Kirkpatrick, Chair, Greater Middletown Choir, Connecticut