Where Once There Lay Dragons
For SATB Choir (some divisi) and Organ or Piano. Just a GREAT setting of this text by Carol McClure on Isaiah 35:1-10. It's not often you get dragons in your scripture text (granted, it's the KJV), but when you do, take advantage of them! Colorful, driving, and just a bit West End. Great for any Sunday in Advent. The rhythm sounds tricky, but it's very easy for the choir to get hold of and repeats throughout. The keyboard part is a bit more complicated, but hey!, this is great fun!
Where once there lay dragons, tall grasses shall grow;
Where once there lay wasteland, a pathway shall go;
Where once there lay desert, there shall flow a spring;
O ransomed of Zion, with joy you shall sing.
As once you were fearful, you now are made calm;
As once you were wounded, you now have a balm;
As once you were feeble, you now are made strong;
As once you were silent, you now have a song.
Be strong and fear not, for your God will come!
For sweet songs of gladness shall sound on each tongue
When sorrow and sadness shall all flee away!
Prepare now, O Zion, to greet this new day!