Like David's Harp
Grade 3-6 Children's Choir for two-part treble voices and piano (or harp or organ).
- Text Source: Carol McClure, adapted from The Sacred Harp
- Vocal Part(s): Two-part treble voices
- Vocal Range: Treble I – a to f’; Treble II – f to d’
- Key: Bb major
- Meter: 2/2 and 3/2
Teaching Guide
Instilling confidence about singing the changing meter melody and helping the choristers to sing their own part (m. 3- to the end) provide the most challenging facets of teaching the Treble 2 part of this anthem. The Treble 1 part has a high tessitura, the melodic fragments of which provide opportunity for increasingly accurate interval singing. Make sure that each group of singers has its part well under control before putting the Treble I and 2 parts together. One way of beginning the collaboration process is to pick a particular interval for part singers to tune (each beat of m. 38).
Sweet is the land of sacred rest;
No mortal cares shall seize my breast.
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound.
There shall I share a glorious part,
When grace has well-refined my heart,
And fresh supplies of oil are shed,
Like holy oil upon my head.
Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired and wished below,
And every power find sweet employ,
In that eternal world of joy.
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound.
Amen.