Cecilia McDowall: Rise heart; they lord is risen

SSATB (unacc.)

Oxford University Press ISBN 078-O-19-352269-4

Here is a truly fine gem of a piece which deserves to become very popular. The text is by George Herbert and was commissioned by the Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, to mark Carolyn Brunelle’s 50 years as a member of the Plymouth Choir. The resultant work is not difficult in technical terms, but neither is it too easy; it should make a strong impact if well sung by a committed choir. My only query is that I should have wished for a lunga pausa on the basses’ final D – perhaps the acoustic of the building in which the work is performed will supply that. A fine piece of music, this.