Randal Thompson was an incredible composer

I too am crying. We sang this song in concert choir when I was in high school. An amazing piece of music, to be sure.

One of my all-time choral pieces of music. Did it in high school, in the early 1960s, as well as about a half dozen church choirs! Beautiful music!

I always felt so bad for our accompanist when we sang this.

a memory here: our beloved Choir Director Willard Johnson (Kellogg HS): wrote, arranged, and exposed so many of us to wondrous choral music such as this. Forever grateful, Mr. Johnson!

I love the tone painting at the section "And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth..." The voices move up in parallel major chords -- sounds like the most glorious sunrise! =)

This is a rehearsal video I created for my choir. You're hearing the Mormon Tabernacle choir's excellent recording.

I sang this with the Charles Wesley Youth Choir under the genius direction of Dr. John Dressler at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. I was so very blessed to be a part of this magnificent assembly of musicians! Blessings to all! =^..^=

I got the chills, especially at that tenor note held at the end. It was just so light yet powerful, just the way it should be.

This is a wonderful way to sing scripture. What beautiful musical writing and crafting of this text.

Those Tenors answering those amen with alleluia just kills me, especially the last time when they hold the last syllable while the rest of the singers pause. Genius compositional gesture. So beautiful.

This year makes 10 years I sung this song with my high school choir my sophomore year. Sweet memories…

My highschool sang this in our last concert. It was my favorite piece

I had the great luck to belong to an undergrad chorale concert tour/sightseeing trip to central Europe. We took a day trip to Berchtesgaden, Germany, which was where Hitler's retreat, the Eagle's Nest was located. We gathered on a stone terrace, which I've seen in old WW2 films of Hitler and Eva Braun---- and we sang an acapella version of this to the Bavarian hills. How proud--- triumphant--- we were to proclaim He that ruleth over Men *must be just!*

What a thrill to have sung this in High School. Thanks for posting

Sang this (II bass) in All States chorus 1969 at Symphony Hall in Rochester, NY Haven't heard it since. Simple but elegant.

I always loved playing this.

this is a very powerful song.. our leaders should listen to this

the best piece I've ever performed in a choir. it is so powerful. and to sing it. oh my gosh I had goosebumps every time

Ugh this is so good, I am crying.

This song is everything!

Whoa, first time hearing this beautiful piece, now I need to have my choir learn it.

If anyone can listen to this and not cry, they have no soul.

An exquisite piece - I've sung this too, and felt transported.

Sang this some time ago. Surprised how much I remembered.. Great piece, done well.

Thank you for posting, I love following the sheet music! By far, one of my most favorite songs I have ever sung in the choir. Still gives me chill bumps every time :)

I loved singing this in high school! We also did Testament of Freedom. Another great piece by Randall Thompson

I sang this my freshman year of high school and it's truly a gorgeous piece that is so much to sing as a soprano, but I learned every part for the sake of learning every part. But this song redefines understand classical music for me, and many people. It's a minor challenge for small choirs but if learned correctly it's phenomenal

The chord at Number 8. Heavenly. :')

Thank you for this post..

I used to commute over an hour to work each day, eastbound in the morning. I would think of this song each time the sun rose to blind me on my commute (as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds...) :-)

Muy buena musica

just something else!

Tenors holding that last note.

We (Timmins Symphony Orchestra & Chorus) are singing this on May 13th I'm in the chorus and we have enjoyed learning the piece.

OMG,I am choir and I need to sing this song.....

UGh this is so hard, I am dying

Amen!

A most fitting anthem for a presidential inauguration --- Think so?

"And he shall be as the light of the morning" A powerful phrase. Those same words are used to describe Jesus the Christ. After all, those who are given authority over mankind are acting in the position of The Christ himself.

this is so cool

Wish they had a video of them singing it...

Yes

thx ! I have sing today, I am tenor but someone said that I am bass....

I want to sing this.

Sang this with the Kirkland Choral Society - it's a minor masterpiece. (Minor in terms of size)

I wish the latter part of this piece did not undergo an "enharmonic switcheroo" at 1:10 in this video. F# becomes Gb, but it really shouldn't. It should continue as F#. I do not think Randall Thompson wanted the singers and orchestra to drop 23.46 cents at 1:12 time stamp. But it seems he did this to prevent the use of double sharps and even a triple sharp in the rest of the song. The problem is that the visual component is lost on most people because I don't think most people realize this change and why it all of the sudden becomes all flats written even though it should be sharps sung still. Having the piece start in G major and end in Fx major is more fitting for the text. It starts with David at the end of his life as king of Israel. Saying these things, he is at once acknowledging the truth of how a king should rule over men, while simultaneously admitting that he did not live up to this standard perfectly, while also simultaneously prophesying of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, where He WILL live up to this standard because he is God Almighty manifest in the flesh. It would make sense that at 1:12 the pitch would start to drift upwards more and more as the righteous King and his reign was described more and more. And by the end you are where you started but 23.46 cents higher in pitch yet the notes are also more settled "on the earth" in that they are written lower on the staff, F's being written lower on the staves than G's. The Kingdom of Heaven on the earth. The seed of David on the throne, just as God had promised millennia before.

can someone tell me where to find the orchestra parts for this piece? I've been looking everywhere, and have had no luck!

alto line needs to b a little stronger. I sang this song in high school n is my favorite of all

it seems as it always does, the sopranos were overwhelming to the altos... as a 2nd alto

Sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Well sung, but they really don't do much with the dynamics, and the dynamics are half of the fun of this piece.

"Ruling in the fear of God." Powerful words and I pray fervently that America's new president will do just that.

Who performed this?