Eternal Sleep by Emily Stifter at First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Thank you to the Vocal Artists of Iowa for performing my piece written in memoriam of Matthew Harper, once a singer in the choir.

Text and Lyrics:
Before we perform our next piece, Eternal Sleep, I wanted to give a note which pulls from information from the composer, Emily Stifter, as well as my own reflections.

This piece was written in the following days after the unexpected death of my friend Matthew Harper. His death shook the Luther community, the Iowa choral community, his students, his family, and anyone who heard the tragic story.

I and a few others members of this choir met Matthew in high school at Iowa City West High. In a rehearsal led by Ryan Pearson and our very own director David Haas. Matthew was an incredible singer, musician, and friend.

After West, Matthew attended Luther College along with myself and other members of the choir standing in front of you. It was there that he met his wife Anna. Following Luther, Matthew and Anna settled in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was the choir director and Anna the band director. He took every opportunity to make music including traveling down to the Iowa City area to perform and conduct with the Vocal Artists of Iowa.

When Matthew passed in February this year, Anna was expecting their first child. This piece is meant to be told from Matthew’s perspective. The lyrics are a direct message to Anna and their upcoming baby and the overall comforting and calming, even joyful music represents Matthew’s joy for life and abundant positivity.

I am overjoyed to say, that earlier today Anna gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl, Evelyn Marie Harper. Matthew’s life will continue to be remembered through this song as well as the students he taught, and the impact he had on his classmates and coworkers during his own musical education and work.

To those of you who didn’t know him, picture a man with curly brown hair, about yea high, with a beard he was incredibly proud of, wearing Chacos and a flannel, singing bass 2, with a permanent warm and welcoming smile on his face.

May you rest in peace dear friend.


When I lay down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If that is not within His plans, I will sleep sleep sleep, peacefully.

I will sleep, oh I will sleep, oh I will sleep, oh I will sleep eternally. Until we meet, until we meet again my love.

You are loved.

And if you find yourself in tears, don’t worry dear I’m always near for life is but a fragile thing but up above I’m listening.

Sleep my baby, sleep my baby.

Oh hushabye, now don’t you cry, lay down your head and rest.

Now hushabye, now hushabye, now don’t you cry, don’t cry now, lay down your head and rest, (rest your head.)

I will rest, I will rest. Rest.

You’re mine for forever.

If my life served its course on Earth,

I’m up above with love.

00:00 Note from Composer and Director
02:32 Piece begins