SATB + piano (optional oboe, violin, and viola)
Editor’s Choice, J.W. Pepper

NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER

I wrote this text/work for the 2023 Saint Simons Sacred Music Festival on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. The words were inspired by 3rd century Egyptian monk, St. Anthony in the Desert.

TEXT

Come, walk with me into the desert,
Drink from the well of living waters,
Where Eden’s beauty lay,
and night turns into day,
Sing, o my soul,
Rise and sing!

Rise at first light of day!
Rise in joyous refrain!
Sing my soul,
The victory’s won! Alleluia!

Hide me in your holiness,
Whisper low,
Cover me in righteousness
With ancient blazing fire,
Silence and stillness,
Earth, wind, sun.

I am the longing in the rivers,
I am the laughter in the sound of rain,
Fear not when earthquakes come, or darkness surrounds you,
Sing, o my soul, RISE AND SING!

Come, come the Morning Star!
Come, come light our path,
RISE, SING!
ALLELUIA!