SATB div. a cappella

A stirring, emotionally resonant piece, Let There Be Peace is a clarion call for healing and hope. Opening with a gentle soprano call for peace, the piece unfolds into a rich texture that conveys a shared longing for a better world. This deeply expressive piece incorporates antiphonal call-and-response, wavelike, flowing dynamic phrasing, and speech-driven rhythmic pacing. Portions of the piece (including the soprano solo) quote the Negro spiritual “Deep River”, pulling on the emotional cry of freedom echoed so long ago by the enslaved. This piece of harmonic depth and strong messaging is ideal for concert and sacred settings of any season.

Text

Let there be peace in all the land

 

Don’t you want to live where there’s no pain or violence?

Don’t you want to live where there’s no strain or strife?

There’s a river ‘cross the way over in Jordan

Where peace, hope, love, and joy do reside

 

I want a land where there’s no suff’ring

I want a land where there’s no sorrow

I pray that day is soon to come

We need peace, peace in all the land

 

Peace

*Quoting Deep River*

Deep river

My home is over Jordan

Deep river, Lord

I want to cross over into campground.