What Wondrous Love

for orchestra. 9’

The hymn “What Wondrous Love” is widely familiar. As a core part of the musical repertoire of the Great Awakening, it is one of America’s great contributions to Christianity. It is an ancient sound, born of a new country. My work is a fantasia on this theme; a shifting series of attitudes toward toward the melody, which is heard clearly only twice: by the bassoon in the second variation, and at the end in a full brass choir.

Commissioned by Symphony Parnassus as part of my residency there.

Photo credits: Original