Songs to the Lord of Peace (2006) - Music by Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947); Poetry by Thomas Merton

from The Big Picture UChoir Concert
March 3, 2024
Harvard University Choir
Edward Elwyn Jones, conductor
David von Behren, piano
Harvard Memorial Church
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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1. Evening Prayer - 0:00-4:14
2. I Have Called You - 4:14-7:20
3. Be My Defender - 7:20-12:23
4. There is a Way to Glory - 12:23-16:57
Note by the composer:
The texts for these four songs are taken from a series of Freedom Songs which Thomas Merton wrote in 1966.
These poems were created in response to a special request in connection with the Christian non-violent movement for Civil Rights. Thus, faith, equality and peace are the unifying themes in the songs.
The ordering of the texts and the creation of the musical settings have been formed with the intent of presenting a growth in the intensity of the message. From the quiet Evening Prayer to the powerful There is a Way, the songs span a variety of imagery and musical language. The prayer, the voice of faith and the affirmation of equality grow ever more insistent.
Images central to the various songs are:
Evening Prayer — the prayer rising “sweet as incense smoke”
I Have Called You — forceful, the voice of the Lord speaking “I have called you by your name. You belong to me.”
Be my Defender — growth in intensity from the quiet supplication “Lord, be my Defender” to the dramatic “Kneel and tremble in the night”
There is a Way - a triumphant march to glory!
Lines from the poem There is a Way encompass the inspiration behind the entire set of Songs to the Lord of Peace.
There is a way to glory.
Love is this way to glory.
Riding on to Sion where the Lord of Peace rules in glory.
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1. Evening Prayer
Lord, receive my prayer
Sweet as incense smoke
Rising from my heart
Full of care
I lift up my hands
In evening sacrifice
Lord, receive my prayer.
When I meet the man
On my way
When he starts to curse
And threatens me,
Lord, guard my lips
I will not reply
Guide my steps in the night
As I go my way.
Maybe he belongs
To some other Lord
Who is not so wise and good
Maybe that is why those bones
Like scattered in the road.
When I look to the right and left
No one cares to know
Who I am, where I go.
Hear my prayer
I will trust in you If they set their traps
On my way
If they aim their guns at me
You will guide my steps
I will pass them by
In the dark
They will never see. Lord, to you I raise
Wide and bright
Faith-filled eyes
In the night
You are my protection
Bring me home.
And receive my prayer
Sweet as incense smoke
Rising from my heart
Free of care.
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2. I Have Called You
Do not be afraid
O my people
Do not be afraid
Says the Lord:
I have called you
By your name
I am your Redeemer
You belong to me.
When you cross the river
I am there
I am with you
When your street
’s on fire
Do not be afraid
O my people
You belong to me.
Bring my sons from afar
Says the Savior
Bring them from that dark country
Bring them glad and free
Says the Lord
They belong to me.
Bring my songs and daughters
From that far country
From their house of bondage
Set them free
Bring them back in glory
Home to me.
Do not be afraid
O my people
I Have called you by your name
You belong to me.
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3. Be My Defender
Lord, when there is no escape, be my Defender
When they crowd around me, Lord
Be my Defender,
Steal me out of here,
Have mercy Lord, show your power
Steal me out of here,
Be my Defender.
Man
Crowding all around
Why are you
So cold, so proud
Why is your tongue so mean
Why is your hand
So quick to harm
Why are you like
A rattlesnake
So quick to strike?
Man
Crowing all around
You have children in your home
You have looked for happiness
You have asked the Lord
For better days
Kneel and tremble in the night
Ask my Lord to change your heart
Fear my Lord and learn the ways
Of patience, love and sacrifice
Lord, when they all go by, riding high
Looking down on me, be my Defender
Be my Defender, Lord
And my secret heart will know
A sweeter joy, Lord, a sweeter joy
For I’ll walk alone
With only you
I’ll like down to sleep in peace, in hope
For though I cannot trust in Man
I trust in you.
Lord, when they all go by
Riding high
Looking down on me
Be my Defender,
Lord, be my Defender
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4. There Is a Way to Glory
There is a way to glory
Clear and straight
but not for men of blood
They shall not stray
Upon my road
Nor the unclean
Whose hands have taken life:
They shall not find this holy way
To Jerusalem
Where the Lord of peace
Rules in glory.
Love is this way to glory
Truth and Mercy
No beast of prey
Shall be there
No angry wolf or bear
By my highway
Murder shall not stain
That way with blood
But forgiveness everywhere
Shall teach my people how
To go to glory.
Songs of love and joy
Echo everywhere
And the holy people
Travels there
Glad and free
Forgiving and forgiven
Riding on to Sion
Where the Lord of Peace
Their Defender, their Redeemer
Rules in glory.