May God Lay Rest Upon Your Souls

Description

May God Lay Rest Upon Your Souls was composed in response to the tragic shooting at the Church of the Annunciation. The work stands as an act of remembrance and reverence—honoring the lives lost, acknowledging the grief of those left behind, and offering a musical space for collective mourning, prayer, and reflection. Rather than attempting to depict the violence of the event itself, the piece focuses on what follows: sorrow, silence, faith, and the fragile hope that emerges in the wake of profound loss.

The musical language of the work is shaped by four hymns, each chosen for its theological and emotional resonance. These hymns are not presented as straightforward quotations, but are woven into the fabric of the composition, often fragmented, reharmonized, or obscured, mirroring the way faith and memory can feel altered by tragedy.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded serves as the emotional core of the piece. Associated with suffering, sacrifice, and lament, its presence reflects both the pain endured by the victims and the shared grief of the community. The hymn often appears in subdued textures, its contours softened, as if heard through mourning.

The Doxology emerges as a moment of stillness and reverence rather than triumph. Traditionally a song of praise, it is reimagined here with restraint, symbolizing prayer spoken quietly when words feel insufficient. Its inclusion suggests faith not as certainty, but as an act of devotion amid sorrow.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing represents the voices of the community—those who remember, grieve, and seek unity. Rather than sounding exuberant, the hymn is transformed into a collective plea, reflecting the longing to speak, to honor, and to make meaning from loss when language alone cannot suffice.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing offers the most forward-looking presence in the work. Its gentle emergence suggests remembrance infused with gratitude for life, love, and the enduring bonds that remain. This hymn does not erase grief, but acknowledges the possibility of healing while honoring memory.

Throughout the piece, silence and restraint play a crucial role. Space is treated as sacred, allowing the music to breathe and the listener to reflect. May God Lay Rest Upon Your Souls does not seek resolution in a traditional sense; instead, it offers a moment of communal stillness—an invitation to remember, to grieve, and to hold fast to compassion and faith in the face of tragedy.

This work is humbly dedicated to the victims of the Annunciation Church shooting and to all those whose lives were forever changed by that day.