Hear my prayer (Jason Smart)

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• (Posted 2020-03-20)  CPDL #57622:     

Editor: Jason Smart (submitted 2020-03-20).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 551 kB   Copyright: CC BY ND

Edition notes: revised 2022: A couple of small revisions to the organ part

General Information

Title: Hear my Prayer
Composer: Jason Smart
Lyricist:

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB with divisions
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: Organ

First published:
Description: A setting of the first six verses of Psalm 55. I have sought to depict the psalmist as someone oppressed by enemies and in fear of his life. His reference to the dove is not to a symbol of gentleness and comfort, but is a cry of anguish and despair. I have described the piece as a 'concert anthem' because its unremittingly dark mood may be more suited to the concert platform than the church, but I have no wish to be prescriptive about this. I think the psalmist's fears were not so different from those of many oppressed populations in the modern world.

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Psalm 55.

English text

Hear my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my petition.
Take heed unto me and hear me: how I mourn in my prayer and am vexed.
The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast, for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me.
My heart is disquieted within me and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove: for then would I flee away and be at rest.
(Psalm 55, vv.1-6)