Glorious Benediction

I wrote this piece while a composition major at the University of Oklahoma, studying under Dr. Marvin Lamb.  While reading the Psalms, passages jump out at me occasionally, ones that I go “This needs to be set to music.”  As you may guess, this passage from Psalm 72 is one of those instances!  The majesty and wonderment I felt as I read this text needed something “High Church” to accompany it.  At the time, I was delving into the repertoire of Vincent Persichetti, himself known for his Hymns and Responses for the Church Year.  His sound inspired the tonal language I used in this work, which is not tonally functional but does have a sort of tonal center.  These harmonic colorations I hoped would convey the “something otherness” I felt as I read the text.

One note about this recording: I did not write it to be performed with organ originally.  I requested that the organ accompany this piece to help the choir get used to the harmonic language I was using, and I wound up enjoying the color the instrument added to the piece–so I kept it!

Glorious Benediction

(Source: Psalm 72:18-19)

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, /
who only doeth wondrous things.
And blessed be his glorious name for ever: /
and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.