Celtic Benediction
for Voice, Piano/Harp, and Violin
PDF Preview
I wrote this benediction to be the concert closer for 'Lux Aeterna', a chamber concert held to celebrate the dedication of a new stained glass window at the Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church (a window which was itself dedicated in memory of Lydia Walker, my grandmother, who had been the organist and choir director at the church for many years, and to whom I owe, among other things, my first commission 'My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.')
The music is almost strophic, with each 'verse' being based on the same basic melodic shape, but with a good deal of variety between the verses.
May the blessing of light be upon you.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you until your heart glows like a fire,
so that stranger and friend alike may come and warm themselves;
And may light shine out of your eyes,
like a candle in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in and rest.
May the blessing of the rain be upon you.
May the great rains beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean;
and leave there many a shining pool.
And may the soft sweet rain fall on your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the earth be upon you.
May the ground be firm beneath your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you rest on it, at the end of day;
And when, at last, you lie out beneath it,
may it cover you gently, until your soul finds its way home.
May the road rise up to meet you;
May the rains fall soft upon your fields;
May the sun shine warm upon you;
and until we meet again, may you rest in the palm of God’s hand.
Amen.
for information on obtaining sheet music, please contact me at WalkerWilliamsMusic@gmail.com
for Voice, Piano/Harp, and Violin
PDF Preview
I wrote this benediction to be the concert closer for 'Lux Aeterna', a chamber concert held to celebrate the dedication of a new stained glass window at the Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church (a window which was itself dedicated in memory of Lydia Walker, my grandmother, who had been the organist and choir director at the church for many years, and to whom I owe, among other things, my first commission 'My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.')
The music is almost strophic, with each 'verse' being based on the same basic melodic shape, but with a good deal of variety between the verses.
May the blessing of light be upon you.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you until your heart glows like a fire,
so that stranger and friend alike may come and warm themselves;
And may light shine out of your eyes,
like a candle in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in and rest.
May the blessing of the rain be upon you.
May the great rains beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean;
and leave there many a shining pool.
And may the soft sweet rain fall on your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the earth be upon you.
May the ground be firm beneath your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you rest on it, at the end of day;
And when, at last, you lie out beneath it,
may it cover you gently, until your soul finds its way home.
May the road rise up to meet you;
May the rains fall soft upon your fields;
May the sun shine warm upon you;
and until we meet again, may you rest in the palm of God’s hand.
Amen.
for information on obtaining sheet music, please contact me at WalkerWilliamsMusic@gmail.com