General anthem for SATB voices, female and male soli, and piano; words from Psalm 123; music by Dana Mengel.
The psalmist places his eyes upon God, acknowledging God’s sovereignty, and seeking grace. Soloists introduce the anthem with tutti ensemble entering with words of praise at measure 14. The refrain is an act of worship, offering “Gloria! Hallelujah!” with full voice. The anthem goes through multiple key changes, building with each upward motion. The closing “Hallelujah!” proclaims God’s eternal majesty with accented voices and a grand ritardando.
The contemporary flavor of the accompaniment is reflected in the pulsating chords and predictable harmonic structure. Octaves are used throughout, as are syncopations requiring an accomplished player. There are no vocal surprises, with textures varying for interest. All vocal ranges are moderate, using much repetition. Youth and adults may sing this.
Performance options include adding a praise band following the keyboard accompaniment as a guide. The solos may be sung soli. The refrain may be extracted and used as a call to worship, gathering chorus, act of praise, or choral benediction. The anthem may be sung in place of reading Psalm 123, an anthem of praise, or general anthem. A rehearsal/accompaniment CD is available #0687326397.
Appropriate days: General worship.
