Скачать или смотреть Two Shaker Hymns (2008)

These two light arrangements of Shaker hymns were written for performance at the 2008 National Hammer-dulcimer Championship in Kansas. Employing a straightforward binary form as a setting to a sacred text, each original hymn features an unostentatious yet beautiful diatonic melody arranged in block chords. Although there are few instances of programmatic text-painting in these simple pieces, a familiarity with their words nonetheless reveals a subtle rationale for their austere, yet inexplicably poignant sound.

The first piece, "O God of Mercy," is best described as a pledge of solidarity and support among members of the tightly knit congregation. The final line, with its mention of ties that can only be broken by death is particularly indicative of this now extinct religious sect:

Good elders, dear sisters, and brethren, I love you
I share in your comfort; your sorrows are mine
With you my whole soul is bound in affection,
A tie which is stronger than death

The second hymn, entitled :A Prayer for the Nations," presents a heartfelt plea for peace and an end to all war and struggle:

O God of mercy, truth, and love,
We humbly ask of thee,
To turn each heart from sin and strife,
To set the nations free

Cause peace to rule and wards to cease,
Which do so sore oppress,
For the healing of the nations,
O God draw nigh to bless