Choral Psalm 42 Unison w/Congregation with piano; SATB with piano; SSA with piano and Flute (C Instrument) | 3 minutes | Listen The opening phrase of Psalm 42, “Just as the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for You, my God!” has inspired countless musical settings over the centuries. This vivid imagery invites flowing melodies, expressing the anonymous Psalmist’s longing, sorrow, joy, and peace. Because of its watery association, I’ve paired the anonymous American folk tune Shenandoah with my poetic adaptation of the Psalm, carefully painting each strophe. The Unison setting works very well with Congregational singers, as the piano accompaniment strongly supports the melody line in a comfortable range. The piano provides a steady, flowing accompaniment in both the SSA and SATB settings. In the SSA version, I’ve also used the traditional English folk tuneWaly,Waly, and interwoven a Flute [C instrument] part throughout, echoing both theWaly,Waly and Shenandoah melodies. Just as the deer longs for the water, So my soul, it yearns for Thee! I thirst for You, my living water, to satisfy my deepest need, fill my very being. My tears have washed my soul in sorrow, Still I hope in God my Savior! In darkest night His song is with me, A quiet peace flows in my soul, carries all my troubles. I’ll sing God’s praise among His people, With glad shouts sing sweet hosannas! Rememb’ring all His help and comfort, His love so sure and strong, fills my ev’ry longing. [SSA withWaly,Waly tune] Just as the deer for water longs, So yearns my soul to drink of Thee! I thirst for You, O come and fill and satisfy my deepest need.
Vocal Solo I’d Rather Have Jesus with piano | 4 min | Listen When asked to develop music for an endowment dinner, this old song immediately came to mind. It represents the perfected priorities of a well-lived life (here arranged for mezzo-soprano Cynthia Dean). Long before its composer, George Beverly Shea, became the world-famous baritone soloist for the evangelistic Billy Graham Crusade, he wrote “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” in response to his mother’s influence. She had left Rhea F. Miller’s 1922 poem on their piano, hoping that her son would read it, and he did. The words moved George, and spoke to him of his own aims and ambitions. He sat down at the piano and began singing the poem to a tune that seemed to fit the words, and the next day sang it in church. Though George had been offered a popular music career with NBC, a few years later he chose to become associated with Billy Graham and sang this song to millions of people around the world. I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand… Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name. He is fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He is sweeter than honey from out the comb; He is all that my hungering spirit needs. I would rather have Jesus and let Him lead… Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
Choral All Things Bright and Beautiful with piano | 3 min | Listen Over the generations this utterly charming children’s hymn, penned by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848, has brought delight to those who glory in the wonder of God’s creation. I have a special affection for it sung to “Royal Oak,” a 17th century English melody, since I first encountered it in a dear little picture book that I read/sang with my very young daughter. The simple poetic enumerations of elements of the natural world easily engage young singers. With the expressive enthusiasm of an energetic director, they master these mouthfuls of text in short order. And the drama of a delayed last word brings joy to all! All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flow’r that o-pens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. All things bright and beautiful… The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them ev’ry one. All things bright and beautiful… He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well! All things bright and beautiful…
Choral I Surrender All with piano | 4 min | Listen When references to the lyrics of this song became a recurrent theme in Dr. Scott Dudley’s sermon series at Bellevue Presbyterian, I composed this fervent gospel version for the congregation to sing with the choir. At times drums, trombones, and brass band have joined the piano accompaniment, as it has been rendered by the choir, ensembles, and soloists in many different contexts. The inspiration for Judson Van DeVenter’s text was quite personal: “For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing.” His colleague in ministry, Winfield S. Weeden, set his powerful poem to music, and it became the most enduringly popular of all the hymns they composed during their fruitful ministry together. All to Jesus I surrender, All to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, In his presence daily live. Refrain: I surrender all, I surrender all, All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at his feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now. All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to thee, Fill me with thy love and power, Let thy blessing fall on me!
Choral It is Well ~ Nimrod SATB, with cello, and piano | 5.5 min This piece was commissioned in memoriam by the family of Homero Capetillo, a wonderful gentleman and founding teacher in a Spanish-immersion school for 30 years. After considering several of his musical “favorites” I decided to weave Edward Elgar’s beloved “Nimrod” with Horatio Spafford’s treasured hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” Spafford’s deep faith in the face of multiple personal losses inspired his poem of calm assurance, set to music by the hymnist Philip Bliss in 1875. Twenty-five years later, Edward Elgar wrote 14 variations on his “Enigma” theme, each one immortalizing a dear friend. “Nimrod” refers to the music editor Augustus J. Jaeger, whose name means “hunter” in German. Elgar playfully chose the biblical name “Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord” for this friend’s variation. This sumptuous adagio movement commemorates an occasion when Elgar had been very depressed and was about to give it all up and write no more music. Jaeger visited him and encouraged him to continue composing. He referred to Ludwig van Beethoven, who had a lot of worries, but wrote more and more beautiful music. “And that is what you must do,” Jaeger said, and he sang the theme of the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8 Pathétique. Elgar disclosed that the opening bars of “Nimrod” were made to suggest that theme, saying, “Can’t you hear it at the beginning? Only a hint, not a quotation.” I found great pleasure in creating this lilting variation of a variation, born of layers of inspiration and encouragement, all in the service of the expression of a deep faith and appreciation for beauty shared by Homero Capetillo. When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul. Esta bien con mi alma. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control: That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed his own blood for my soul! It is well, it is well with my soul. Esta bien con mi alma. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. Esta bien con mi alma.
Vocal Solo Along With My Love I’ll Go with flute and piano | 3 min | Listen While collecting traditional Celtic tunes for an album of flute duets with piano, I described the experience as wandering into a candy store of endless delights– my task being to enrobe each select sweet center in creative chocolate! And when I discovered this winsome Irish melody, it became the title song of the CD Along With My Love I’ll Go . I added words to the melody for tenor Ross Hauck when he recorded the album Where We Long to Be . They reflect my long love of all things nautical, the romance of the sea. The accompanying video features Ross with flutist Maya Lewis. Blow ye winds, westerlies, come hasten; fill the sails, drive us through the sea… to a land far away and olden, to the place where we long to be. Rolling waves may thunder ’round us, fears relentless pound us, yet we shall see, come the night, countless stars in heaven guiding on over the sea.
Choral What a Friend SATB with congregation, piano and English horn | 3.5 min | Listen My task was simple– to select songs for a retreat on the topic of Jesus’ earthly emotional life. Early on, the beloved 1855 hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” seemed an obvious choice, though the music felt dated. Then during a walk, this more contemporary melody with a Celtic lilt arrived, and later called for the plaintive, yet serene sound of the English horn (or alto sax). This SATB version for choir and congregation includes interstitial choral bridges, connecting Joseph M. Scriven’s sweet and simple words to the biblical passages that inspired them. “Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 “The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:4 What a friend we have in Jesus! All our sins and griefs to bear, What a privilege to carry ev’rything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry ev’rything to God in prayer. For He was tempted, He was tried; Bore our sins as He died. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. God’s Spirit sighs with us as we cry! Our prayers as incense arise! What a friend we have in Jesus! All our sins and griefs to bear, What a privilege to carry ev’rything to God in prayer! Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer… Rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweet portion there. What a friend we have in Jesus.
Choral Waiting Water SSATBB, tenor soloist, with piano, and organ | 4.5 min | Listen “Waiting water; still– ’til the stone falls so freely, sending circles into eternity…” In Waiting Water, the endlessly expanding circles set in motion by the action of a single stone represent the enduring significance of each word and deed done in Jesus’ name. Through the image of ripples affecting the breathless face of the water, we see that God’s creation always awaits the activity of his Spirit. Our faithful actions participate in the movement of the waters of creation, “sending circles into eternity…” Waiting Water begins with Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah’s ancient messianic prophecy, a prophecy that Jesus fulfilled in his ministry to the poor, the hungry, the sick, the blind, and the oppressed. He also gave special attention to little children, ones who “belong” to the Kingdom of Heaven. This Kingdom, eternal life prepared “from the foundation of the world,” awaits all who faithfully follow in Jesus’ steps. The piece concludes with an image of God’s creative desire from Genesis 1:2 – “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water.” In contemporary film, moments of great intensity are very often accompanied by choral music. “Waiting Water” provides a “sound track” for the expectant excitement of these intensely significant words. [Luke 4; Isaiah 61] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recov’ry of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor! ~~~ Waiting water, still— ’til the stone falls so freely, sending circles into eternity… ~~~ [Matthew 19] Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven. ~~~ Waiting water, still— ’til the stone falls so freely, sending circles into eternity… ~~~ [Matthew 25] I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me. ~~~ Waiting water, still— ’til the stone falls so freely, sending circles into eternity… ~~~ [Matthew 25] Just as you did it for one of the least of my family, you did it unto me. Come, you that are blessed by my father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ~~~ Waiting water, still— ’til the stone falls so freely, sending circles into eternity… ~~~ [Genesis 1] The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the face of the water…
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 Eden of Love SATB with tanpura drone | 3 min | Listen The mother lode of early American hymnody may be found in the Sacred Harp tradition, where I first encountered this transcendent song. The last few decades have brought a revival of interest in and performance of its “shaped note music,” born of 19th-century “Singing Schools” where communities would learn to read music via a strict pedagogy, using shaped noteheads. Performance practice requires the singers to assemble their chairs in rows in four vocal sections, all facing the center, where a conductor may (or may not) lead. The tenor line generally has the melody, and all the parts are rendered with vigor, beginning with a run-through solely in solfege! Although some urban choral groups earnestly attempt imitation of this style, I often find their raucous simulation in an out-of-context performance setting a bit of a caricature (as can happen with any unfamiliar style). This arrangement of The Eden of Love (anon.) was developed for four professional soloists in a house concert setting, and their style walks somewhere between bel canto and folk singing. The piece works well for any combination or quantity of voices, as tutti parts may sing the solo lines, or alternate with soloists. The use of the drone (North Indian tanpura, in this case) provides a scrim, suggesting the parallel ethereal world of heaven. I know of no other hymn text that attempts to paint heaven with such vivid sublimity. What a joy to sing, “I’ll bathe in the ocean of pleasure unbounded” in a sacred song! How sweet to reflect on those joys that await me In yon blissful region, the haven of rest, Where glorified spirits with welcome shall greet me And lead me to mansions prepared for the blest; Encircled in light, and with glory enshrouded, My happiness perfect, my mind’s sky unclouded, I’ll bathe in the ocean of pleasure unbounded And range with delight thru’ the Eden of Love. While angelic legions with harps tuned celestial Harmoniously join in the concert of praise, The saints, as they flock from the regions terrestrial, In loud hallelujahs their voices will raise; Then songs of the Lamb shall re-echo through heaven, My soul will respond to Emmanuel be given. All glory, all honor, all might and dominion, Who brought us thru’ grace to the Eden of Love.