“This Is the Day”—Call to worship or general anthem for SATB voices and piano; words based on Psalm 118:24; music by Ken and Rhonda Beard.
Exciting rhythms and repeating text will make this popular with your contemporary service praise team. The text is based on the familiar Psalm, “This is the day the Lord has made,” and includes additional statements of praise. Voices enter unison at the opening statement gradually dividing into two, three, then four part structure. The middle section separates the voices into overlapping statements of the title phrase, now set in a new tonal area. Additional text continues in the same melodic fashion building into the return of the opening section. The final three measures of accompaniment drive the anthem to its conclusion under a sustained vocal chord.
The accompaniment provides dramatic energy and functions as the entire rhythm section. Cross rhythms between the piano and voices may challenge weaker players and ensembles. Accidentals and harmonic colors in the middle section may require additional attention.
Performance options include adding praise band members to complete the style including percussion and bass. The closing section, measures 27 to the end, may be extracted and used as a truncated version for a call to worship.
Appropriate days: General worship.
Age Level 6-8
Difficulty of vocal parts 7
Difficulty of accompaniment 7