Product Description
Dear Lord and Father of Us All SATB
Keyboard Opt. C Instrument
Words by John Greenleaf Whittier
Music by C. Hubert Parry REPTON Arranged by Ken Litton
Duration 3:30
Copyright © 2024 Artist of Note, Inc./East of the Altar
INTERMEDIATE CHORAL
John Greenleaf Whittier's words still hold great meaning, especially in this season not only of pandemics, but of strong division and strife.
The REPTON tune, while more commonly associated with this text in the United Kingdom has a ton of merit in terms of expressing the text. This pairing appears to have been published only sporadically in mixed voice format or with an optional orchestral instrument.
The arrangement begins in unison, moving to two voices . Then, tenors and basses have a brief solo followed by 2-part and unison singing leading to a high passage taken, logically and practically by the upper voices. The third verse, more expressive, brief and contrasting could still be optional a cappella considering a more active C instrument part (cued in the keyboard) lends focus to intonation. The final stanza strengthens with more use of unison melody, a soprano descant (reinforced by the optional instrument. Still, it stays within practical range, assisting with a bit of text painting at the earthquake, wind and fire. In short order, the quiet appeal returns, reduced in voicing and a brief but optional a cappella phrase leads to a prayerful amen close.
Vocal parts from Artist of Note/East of the Altar are limited to practical ranges and the accompaniment is about as simple as possible with comparatively little movement in the left hand beyond beat three in a typical measure, especially when the right hand is busy.
Note that the instrument part is truly optional and practical not only for violin, viola, oboe or flute using the octave options and any noted exceptions for range. And, it could also be very effectively played on mallet percussion or with an organ stop.
All this from the places you go for the best in downloadable resources:
Sheet Music Direct
https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/se/ID_No/1584261/Product.aspx
Sheet Music Plus
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/dear-lord-and-father-of-us-all-22812499.html
As well as via 5,000 Hal Leonard InStore retailers.
Alsobe sure to check out other titles from Artist of Note, Inc./East of the Altar.
Thanks, as always to the good folks at ArrangeMe.com, a division of Hal Leonard!
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.