Of the Lord’s Mercies — Lyrics and Notes

Lyrics and Notes on the Music

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Music of Lent

Psalm 25 — Peter R. Hallock (1924-2014)
Featuring Jeremy Matheis, Cantor

This Psalm setting was composed in 1991 and uses handbells to punctuate throughout. The Psalm is the second of the seven Penitential Psalms; it serves as an appropriate opening composition for this recording as Lent is a 40-day-long penitential season in the church year. In the original Hebrew (and in the Vulgate translation), the text is arranged as an acrostic, with each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. The acrostic is omitted from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979, and broken by Hallock’s selective setting of verses.

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; * let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame; * let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
Show me your ways, O LORD, * and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, * for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, * for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; * remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
Gracious and upright is the LORD; * therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
He guides the humble in doing right * and teaches his way to the lowly.

For your Name’s sake, O LORD, * forgive my sin, for it is great.
Who are they who fear the LORD? * he will teach them the way that they should choose.

The LORD is a friend to those who fear him * and will show them his covenant.
My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, * for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

—Psalm 25:1-8, 10-11, 13-14, 21

Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah — Hallock
Featuring Page Smith, violoncello, Layne Benofsky, tenor, and Tyler Morse, alto

This work, dedicated to Eva Heinitz, Professor of Music Emeritus, University of Washington, was composed beginning in 1972. The first performance was on Palm Sunday, April 15, 1973; subsequent revisions commenced in 1986. Page Smith, who was 15 at the time of its premiere, has been the cellist for this work ever since.

Here beginneth the lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah:

How lonely sits the city that was full of people, how like a widow has she become; she that was great among the nations, she that was a princess among the cities, has become a vassal.

She weeps bitterly in the night, tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers, she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn thee to the Lord thy God.

—Lamentations 1:1-2

Psalm 26 — Jason A. Anderson (b. 1976)

This work was composed on August 31, 2014, and is part of Jason Anderson’s Psalm settings composed to help him process the grief associated with the death of Peter Hallock, his mentor and friend, on April 27 that same year. The text of the Psalm dates to the Persian period (539 to 333 BCE) and is

“a profession of integrity by a Levite, engaged in worshiping Yahweh in the temple choir. He professes integrity in walk, and unwavering trust in Yahweh, as attested by Yahweh Himself (vs. 1-2). Ever conscious of the divine kindness and faithfulness, he abstains from all association with the wicked (vs .3-4). He hates the company of the wicked and purifies himself for sacrifice (vs. 5-6). He loves the temple (vs .8), and stands in its choir blessing Yahweh (vs. 12). A later editor by additions and changes introduces elements of prayer (vs. 1a, 9-11) and worship (vs. 7).” +

Verses 4, 5, and 10 were intentionally omitted because the composer did not relate to the themes presented. What good is accomplished by avoiding or hating the wicked? There can be no conversation or conversion without seeking out and loving the wicked.

+ See A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms, Charles Augustus Briggs and Emilie Grace Briggs (1960) [1906].

Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I have lived with integrity; * I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
Test me, O LORD, and try me; * examine my heart and my mind.
For your love is before my eyes; * I have walked faithfully with you.

I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, * that I may go in procession round your altar,
Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving * and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
LORD, I love the house in which you dwell * and the place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners, * nor my life with those who thirst for blood.

As for me, I will live with integrity; * redeem me, O LORD, and have pity on me.
My foot stands on level ground; * in the full assembly I will bless the LORD.

—Psalm 26:1-3, 6-9, 11-12

If we could shut the gate — Hallock
Featuring Tom Dziekonski, viola, and Leslie Martin, organ

This work was composed for the Compline Choir in 2002, and revised in 2007 and 2008.

If we could shut the gate against our thoughts and keep out sorrow from within:
Or memory could cancel all misdeeds, and we unthink our sin,
how free, how clear, how clean our hearts would lie, discharged of such grievous company.

Or were there other rooms within the heart, that did not to our conscience join so near,
where we might lodge our thoughts apart, that we might not their clam’rous crying hear,
what peace, what joy, what ease should we possess, freed from the chains, our souls’ oppress.

O Savior, who our refuge art, let thy mercies stand twixt them and us,
And be the wall to separate our hearts, so that we may at length repose us free:
that peace, and joy, and rest may be within, and we remain divided from our sin.

Of the Lord’s Mercies — Erin Aas (b. 1974)

From a lamentation of the prophet Jeremiah:

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn thee to the Lord thy God.

—Lamentations 3:22-26

Erin Aas studied classical guitar, theory, and composition at the University of Washington and at Edinburgh University (United Kingdom). As a composer, he explores the harmonic richness and poignancy possible with an a cappella chorus. Most recently, his setting of portions of Psalm 103 was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2010 Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest. Erin’s compositions have appeared on radio and television. He lives in Seattle, Washington, where he also competes as a triathlete and frequently prays for more sun. [more…]

Music of Holy Week

Psalm 22 — Hallock

This is a peculiar Psalm setting. It is incredibly long (10 ½ minutes) and journeys through several tonal centers. The opening ascending minor second theme persists throughout the work, lulling the listener into a meditative state. The culmination of this minor second motion is the simultaneous occurrence of both D and E-flat Major chords at the end of verse 29. Hallock re-wrote verses 21 through 25, and thinned out the divisi found in other verses in 2006. The text provided Hallock ample opportunity for text painting. To our knowledge, this piece has been sung in a Compline service only once. We are pleased to preserve this Psalm setting and include it on this recording as we are quite certain it will not be performed live in a Compline service any time soon.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? * and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; * by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One, * enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our forefathers put their trust in you; * they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered; * they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man, * scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn; * they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
“He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; * let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, * and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; * you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, * and there is none to help.
Many young bulls encircle me; * strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
They open wide their jaws at me, * like a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; * my heart within my breast is melting wax.
My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; * and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; * they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me; * they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
Be not far away, O LORD; * you are my strength; hasten to help me.
Save me from the sword, * my life from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth, * my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
I will declare your Name to my brethren; * in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
Praise the LORD, you that fear him; * stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; * but when they cry to him he hears them.
My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who
worship him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: *
“May your heart live for ever!”
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations bow before him.
For kingship belongs to the LORD; * he rules over the nations.
To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; * all who go down to the dust fall before him.
My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; * they shall be known as the LORD’S for ever.
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn * the saving deeds that he has done.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Nunc dimittis — Aas

Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word,
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people:
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people, Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

—Luke 2:29-32 KJV

We adore you, O Christ — Richard T. Proulx (1937-2010)

Composed in 1997.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You, because by your Cross You have redeemed the world. We glory in your Cross, O Lord God; we praise and glorify your holy resurrection; by virtue of your cross joy has come. O Savior, by your holy Cross, save us and help us, O Lord. By your holy Cross, You have redeemed us all.

Music of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost

Cпасение coдeлaл (Salvation is created) — Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)
Arranged for men’s voices by Vladimir Morosan

Salvation is created is a choral work composed by Pavel Tchesnokov in 1912 as the fifth in his Ten Communion Hymns (opus 25). It was one of the last sacred works he composed before he turned to secular arts when the Soviet government began to suppress Christianity. Although he never heard his own composition performed, his children had the opportunity following his death. Originally scored for either six or eight mixed voices, the work was arranged for men’s voices by Vladimir Morosan. It is a communion hymn based on a synodal Kievan chant melody and Psalm 74.

Salvation is created in the depths of the earth. Alleluia.

Easter Canticle— Hallock
Featuring Jason A. Anderson, baritone, and Layne Benofsky, tenor

This was originally published in the Episcopal transitional Songs for Liturgy and More Hymns & Spiritual Songs for the Joint Commission on Church Music. It was subsequently adapted for use by The Compline Choir, with the part of the congregation retained by the choir and a handbell part added.

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and evil,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

—The Book of Common Prayer (1928)
based on 1 Corinthians 5:7, Romans 6:9, and 1 Corinthians 15:20

Christus surrexit — Jacob Handl (1550-1591)
Featuring Tyler Morse and Joel Bevington, altos, and Arvind Narayanan and Greg Bloch, tenors

Christ is risen. He has covered our evils, and those whom he loved he has carried up to heaven.
Kyrie eleison. [Lord, have mercy.]

And if he had not risen, the whole world would have perished.
Kyrie eleison. [Lord, have mercy.]

Alleluia. Let us praise him, chanting a hymn of joy. Let us praise him with a song of joy.
Kyrie eleison. [Lord, have mercy.]

Lift your voice rejoicing, Mary! — Thomas Foster (b. 1938)

Regina caeli — Robert White (c. 1538-1574)

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia:
For the one you were worthy to bear, alleluia:
Has risen, as he said, alleluia:
Pray to God for us, alleluia.

—Marian antiphon for Easter Day through the Ascension

The Good Shepherd — Alice Parker (b. 1925)

Love bade me welcome — David Hurd (b. 1950)

O clap your hands — Hallock
Featuring Joel Matter, baritone

Like the Easter Canticle, this processional setting of Psalm 47:1, 5-6, is found in the transitional Songs for Liturgy and More Hymns & Spiritual Songs published for the Joint Commission.

Psalm 113 — Anderson

Come, Holy Spirit — Hallock
Featuring Joel Bevington, alto, and Joel Matter, baritone

This work was composed for the Compline Choir in 1979. Peter Hallock wrote in the preface to the music: “The anonymous prayer Come, Holy Spirit was offered by The Right Reverend Alan Jones as an introduction to a series of lectures presented at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle, Washington in 1979. I am grateful to Alan Jones for his blessing and encouragement towards the creation of this musical setting for the Compline Choir.” The work was published in 1992.

Come, Holy Spirit, and wound us and make us whole.
Come, Holy Spirit, and smite us and give us peace.
In your hands we rest, in the cup of whose hands an ark sailed rudderless and without mast.
In your hands we rest, and own a providence as large as sea and sky,
That could make of the aimless wandering of the ark a new beginning for the world.
In your hands we rest, ready and content this night.
To see thee is the end and the beginning.
Thou carriest me and thou goest before.
Thou art the journey and the journey’s end.

Copyright Acknowledgements

Psalm 25, Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah, If we could shut the gate, Psalm 22, Easter Canticle, and O clap your hands by Peter R. Hallock © The Compline Choir, 1245 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102. All rights reserved.
Cпасение coдeлaл (Salvation is created) by Pavel Chesnokov, arr. for men’s voices by Vladimir Morosan © 1993 Musica Russica, Inc., 527 Gardendale Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Notes on the music by Jason Anderson.

For detailed information, please email us.

Of the Lord’s Mercies — Lyrics and Notes

Lyrics and Notes on the Music

Music of Lent

Music of Holy Week

Music of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost

Copyright Acknowledgements

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