Choral Home SATB palindromic setting from John 14 with piano | 4 min | Listen The text for “Home” directly quotes some of Jesus’ last words given to his disciples. One morning, as I was reading Chapter 14 of John’s Gospel, I was struck by the beautiful symmetry of Jesus’ message, and decided to set it to music in a way that would highlight its form, after that of a poetic palindrome (a framework proceeding and receding symmetrically from a mid-point). Marvelous, hopeful, intimate words of reassurance and union surround a simple, stark central teaching: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” The piece begins and ends with the concluding verse of David’s Psalm 23. “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord…” Don’t be troubled, Don’t be afraid, Have faith in God, Have faith in me. I am making a home for you. I, myself, will bring you there to be with me. I am the way (home), I am the truth, I am your life. ~~~ If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ~~~ I am the way (home), I am the truth, I am your life. I will ask the Father to send a Helper, to be in you, to show you truth. We will come to you, and make our home in you forever. You are not an orphan, You are not alone, You have my peace, I am your home. “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever…” The ultimate message is that, through the agency of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God’s desire is that his home be in us, as we are at home in him… union on earth and in heaven!
Choral Home SATB palindromic setting from John 14 with piano | 4 min | Listen The text for “Home” directly quotes some of Jesus’ last words given to his disciples. One morning, as I was reading Chapter 14 of John’s Gospel, I was struck by the beautiful symmetry of Jesus’ message, and decided to set it to music in a way that would highlight its form, after that of a poetic palindrome (a framework proceeding and receding symmetrically from a mid-point). Marvelous, hopeful, intimate words of reassurance and union surround a simple, stark central teaching: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” The piece begins and ends with the concluding verse of David’s Psalm 23. “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord…” Don’t be troubled, Don’t be afraid, Have faith in God, Have faith in me. I am making a home for you. I, myself, will bring you there to be with me. I am the way (home), I am the truth, I am your life. ~~~ If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ~~~ I am the way (home), I am the truth, I am your life. I will ask the Father to send a Helper, to be in you, to show you truth. We will come to you, and make our home in you forever. You are not an orphan, You are not alone, You have my peace, I am your home. “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever…” The ultimate message is that, through the agency of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God’s desire is that his home be in us, as we are at home in him… union on earth and in heaven!