Premiered March 5, 2003 at Alfred Newman Hall, Los Angeles, CA
1111, Hn., Vib.,Vln., Cb., Choir SATB, text: in latin; Psalm 104:1-7, Rom. 1:20 total duration – 6 min.
I have always loved nature. Growing up my parents took the whole family on trips to national and state parks all over the country where we could see beautiful places. I remember visiting the Grand Canyon when I was a kid and looking over the rim to behold this portrait-like chasm. We saw the Sequoia trees in California where it would take a chain of at least 40 to 50 men to wrap themselves hand-in-hand around the girth of one tree. We went fishing on lakes along the border of Minnesota and Canada. What a gorgeous place! The beauty of the world is truly amazing to see yet the Creator of that beauty is even more awe-inspiring.With all of the experience of arranging and writing a capella music along with singing in several choirs, I wanted to culminate those experiences with my love for orchestration. This piece allowed me to do that. The instrumental ensemble has a coloristic and accompanimental function supporting the choir while occasionally various instruments push out of the texture for brief solos. Translation for Benedic Anima Mea DominoPsalm 104:1-7 God the Creator and Provider (Cp Gen 1.1—31) 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, 2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a curtain, 3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, 4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. 5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. 6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.Romans 1:20 Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
