O'Regan BLESSED ARE THEY

Tarik O’Regan

BLESSED ARE THEY for SATB chorus and string quintet

(2013)

Full Score

NOVELLO

Commissioned in honor of Raymond and Elizabeth Chenault for their 38 years of inspired ministry through music as Organists and Choirmasters of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, where it was first performed on All Saints’ Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Duration:

4 minutes

Instrumentation: SATB chorus and string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), or string orchestra. Alternatively, SATB chorus and organ/piano if strings are not available.

Text: Blessed are they whose labours only cease When God decrees the quiet, sweet release; Who lie down calmly in the sleep of peace.

Blessed are they!

[Excerpted from All Saints’ Day (1867) by Ada Cambridge (1844-1926)]

I have come to the borders of sleep, The unfathomable deep Forest where all must lose Their way, however straight Or winding, soon or late; They cannot choose.

[Excerpted from Lights Out (1916) by Edward Thomas (1878-1917)]

[Blessed are they!]

Whose dust is angel guarded, where the flowers And soft moss cover it, in this earth of ours; Whose souls are roaming in celestial bowers.

Blessed are they!

[All Saints’ Day, Ada Cambridge]

Full score: NOV294030 Vocal score (SATB & reduction for organ/piano): NOV294030-01 Set of parts (2vln, vla, vlc, db): NOV294030-02 Parts for string orchestra are available on hire from the publisher.