We Lift Up Our Hearts
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Children's Choir (S (unison children's choir), SATB choir and piano) - Easy
Range: Children c'-d", Soprano c'-g", Alto g-g', Tenor c-e', Bass F(E)-bText: For the sun and the dawn which we did not create; For the moon and the evening which we did not make; For food which we plant but cannot grow; For friends and loved ones we have not earned and cannot buy; For this gathered company which welcomes us as we are, from wherever we have come; For all our free churches that keep us human and encourage us in our quest for beauty, truth, and love; For all things which come to us as gifts of being from sources beyond ourselves; Gifts of life and love and friendship We lift up our hearts in thanks this day. Copyright by Richard M. Fewkes. Reprinted by permission.
SKU: SF.SEA-021-00
Composed by Elizabeth Alexander. Community Chorus, Adult Choir with Junior/Youth Choir, Concert Music, Church Choir-Anthem. Sacred-Seasonal-Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Worship & Praise, Choral. Octavo. With Text language: English. Duration 3 minutes. Published by Seafarer Press (SF.SEA-021-00).Poem by Richard Fewkes, "We Lift Up Our Hearts". Lyric adapted by Elizabeth Alexander.
Richard Fewkes' prayer of thanksgiving rings simple and true, from its very first words: "For the sun and the dawn, which we did not create, we lift up our hearts in thanks." Elizabeth Alexander's lyrical setting offers the children's choir a gracious stand-alone melody, with a well-crafted descant for the adults. Appropriate for intergenerational or combined choirs, in any interfaith setting, at any time of year.
Composer's Note: My family has spoken Richard M. Fewkes' blessing as our table grace for the past 20 years. This is no small praise, for I had exhaustive criteria for this prayer; it needed to be simple enough for a young child to learn, beautiful in language and form, and appropriate in the presence of a guest of any faith. It was such a pleasure to set Fewkes words to music, so that I could share this generous sentiment with others.Range: Children c'-d", Soprano c'-g", Alto g-g', Tenor c-e', Bass F(E)-bText: For the sun and the dawn which we did not create; For the moon and the evening which we did not make; For food which we plant but cannot grow; For friends and loved ones we have not earned and cannot buy; For this gathered company which welcomes us as we are, from wherever we have come; For all our free churches that keep us human and encourage us in our quest for beauty, truth, and love; For all things which come to us as gifts of being from sources beyond ourselves; Gifts of life and love and friendship We lift up our hearts in thanks this day. Copyright by Richard M. Fewkes. Reprinted by permission.