Play Your Harps, Children of Zion

Composer
Difficulty
Moderate radio_button_checked radio_button_checked radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked
Instrumental Only?
No
Description

  • Text Source: Shaker, South Union and Pleasant Hill
  • Tune Source: Shaker
  • Worship Use: General /Praise/Choir Dedication
  • Vocal Part(s):  Unison, with opt. 2nd part (descant)                    
  • Vocal Range: Pt. I, d-g’; Pt. II (descant), d-e’
  • Key: D minor > A major                               
  • Meter: 6/8
  • Accompanying Instrument(s): Piano (or harp)

Target Age Group: Grades 3-6

Description: Play Your Harps, Children of Zion is a majestic, modal anthem in a slow 6/8, ideal for an inspiring moment in worship or a concert. This anthem provides an opportunity to work on long lines with constan melodic motion.

Anthem Warm-Ups

  • bars 9-12: singing ascending natural minor scale and descending thirds and seconds on “loo” for pitch awareness
  • random phrases: staccato singing of parts for pitch accuracy

Teaching Points

  • Rhythm/Meter: Sustaining a dance-like momentum in slow 6/8 time
  • Vocal Production: Sustaining a lovely unified tone
  • Musical Understanding: Performing 4-bar melodic/rhythmic phrases; singing long lines; shaping phrases; dynamics
  • Intervallic Tuning: Tuning harmonic intervals between the two parts
  • Music History: Learning about early Shaker tunes and texts
  • Music History/Style Exploration: Discussing imagery in Shaker texts
Audio
Lyrics

Children all, arise and sing your songs of Thanksgiving, your songs of love.
Children all, come join the chorus worshipping God above.
Play your harps, children of Zion; Hear the heavenly sound!
Praise the God of your salvation, let God's praise abound.

Children, put your trust in God, he will lead us to that heavenly place;
Where his angels will unite in songs of love and praise;

Play your harps, children of Zion; Hear the heavenly sound!
Praise the God of your salvation, let God's praise abound.