Psalm Offering 10, Opus 6
This Psalm Offering is dedicated to my oldest daughter, Meg. The one quality of Meg that I have always felt present in her is compassion. I remember Meg, about 4 years old, sitting on my lap and watching the Disney cartoon movie, Dumbo. When it got to the part of the movie where Dumbo’s mother is imprisoned in a cage, and baby Dumbo is mourning the loss of his mother. Dumbo’s mother sings the song, “Baby, Now Don’t You Cry.” Poor Meg. She buried her face in my shoulder and sobbed her heart out. Of course, as we know, things eventually get better for Dumbo and for his mother in the movie. However, to this very day, tears well up whenever I think of that one moment Meggie and I shared.
In high school, Meg sang in the regional competitions, I was so honored that the song she sang for the judges was the one I composed for my ordination, “Abba, Yeshua, Ruah.” I also had the honor of accompanying her on the piano. As I recall, Meg received an “excellent” score for her singing.
This Psalm Offering is in simple three part, ABA form. The A and B melodies are simply stated at the beginning and then as they are repeated get more and more elaborate. Stylistically, the song is different from the preceeding songs of this Opus. I don’t know if it is the use of major seventh chords, which in some ways lends a slight air of mystery to the melody. Some of the compositions of this Opus seem to flow easily onto the staff, and others, like this Psalm Offering took some time to create. I must have spent close to 4 hours on the last 15 measures of this Psalm Offering, composing, erasing, composing again, and erasing again, over and over until I finally arrived at what was finally written. To my beautiful Meg, her compassionate heart, her wry and raunchy sense of humor, and her dedication to those she loves and serves, this song was well worth all the work. (And, incidentally, Meg, with a little practice you will be able to play this.)
