In the Sight of God
(An Anthem for SATB Chorus, a cappella)
by
Dan Locklair
In the Sight of God (An Anthem for SATB Chorus, a cappella) is warmly dedicated to John Scott and the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in the City of New York. Composed in December 2008, the text of In the Sight of God is a composite translation of The First Letter of Peter: vs. 2-5 and was chosen by John Scott, Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas.
The words, “Surely thou hast tasted that the Lord is good,” open the anthem. This gentle and lyrical section, marked by dialogue between the sections of the choir, unfolds and eventually reaches a climax on the words “precious in the sight of God.” A quick, energetic and imitative middle section soon emerges to proclaim the words, “Come, and let yourselves be built, as living stones, into a spiritual temple.” Here the spirit of medieval music, the building “stones” for Western music, is invoked. After the anthem’s primary climax is reached on the words “Jesus Christ,” a solo soprano emerges from the choral texture to close In the Sight of God with a serene “Amen.”
January 2009
Winston-Salem, NC
Duration : ca. 3’ 30”
Text
Surely thou hast tasted that the Lord is good.
So come to him, our living stone—the stone rejected by men
but choice and precious in the sight of God.
Come, and let yourselves be built, as living stones, into a spiritual temple;
a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ.
The First Letter of Peter 2 : 2-5