Songs of Consolation

Song Cycle by David Conte (b. 1955) 

Songs of Consolation was commissioned by the historic Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Alexandria, Virginia, for the inauguration of a new organ designed and installed by Mark Lively and Paul Fulcher. The work was composed for soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson and organist Donald Sutherland, members of the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory, and was premiered by them on October 6th, 1997. The work is dedicated to the memory of General Kirby Lamar, a member of the congregation of the Meeting House. The three songs all speak to the comforting power of God’s love to alleviate and lessen grief and suffering. The second song, “The God of Love My Shepherd Is,” is based on a paraphrase of Psalm 23 by the Elizabethan poet George Herbert. Marked Andante, always buoyant, the song begins with serenity and confidence. The music becomes more agitated with the words: ‘Yea, in death’s shady black abode.’ The song ends with a rapturous melissma for the singer.

1. Prayer of St. Theresa
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing afright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth.
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , George Miller [Guest Editor]

2. The God of Love My Shepherd Is
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The God of love my Shepherd is,
And He that doth me feed;
While He is mine and I am His,
What can I want or need?

He leads me to the tender grass,
Where I both feed and rest;
Then to the streams that gently pass:
In both I have the best.

Or if I stray, He doth convert,
And keep my mind in frame,
And all this not for my desert,
But for His holy Name.

Yea, in death's shady black abode
Well may I walk, not fear;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
To guard, Thy staff to bear.

Surely Thy sweet and wondrous love
Shall measure all my days;
And as it never shall remove
So neither shall my praise.

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Research team for this page: Harry Joelson , George Miller [Guest Editor]

3. Lead, Kindly Light
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Lead, Kindly Light, amidst the circling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , George Miller [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 323