Come, Holy Spirit, Heav’nly Dove
For SATB a cappella (2005), 2’15”
Text: Isaac Watts, alt. (Pentecost)
Co-Premiered June 4, 2006, Trinity Episcopal Church (Moorestown, NJ), Music Director Vernon Williams; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Franklin, TN), Music Director Don Michael Dicie.
Program Notes
My Pentecost hymn setting, Come, Holy Spirit, Heav’nly Dove, was originally set for SAB, but I eventually dropped that version in favor of the current SATB one. I also originally set only 4 verses; the current 5th verse was added with the SATB version. The musical material is essentially the same for each verse, but it is altered, subtly and not so subtly, to reflect the different stations in the emotional journey. It is not a traditional hymn setting, with counterpoint and textural variety to break up the homophony.
First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (fccla.org) Chancel Octet, Dr. David Harris, music director.
Come, Holy Spirit, Heav’nly Dove
Isaac Watts, alt. (Pentecost)
Dear Lord, and shall we ever live
At this poor dying rate?
Our love so faint, so cold to You,
And Yours to us so great!
Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove,
With all Your quick’ning powers;
Come, shed abroad the Savior's love
And that shall kindle ours.
Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove,
With all Your quick’ning powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
See how we trifle here below,
fond of these earthly toys:
our souls, how heavily they go,
to reach eternal joys.
In vain we sing our formal songs,
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.