The Spirit of the Lord God Is Upon Me
SATB (some minimal alto divisi) and organ. Text from Isaiah 61:1-3, 11. A beautiful extended anthem on this text - perfect for an installation - but great anytime. Gentle and introspective, building to a big climax, then relaxing to a greatly moving finish.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon, upon me;
because the Lord hath anointed me
to preach good tidings to the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn,
to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God.
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth;
so the Lord God will cause righteousness
and praise to spring forth before all the nations.