RBM-020 | The Prayer of St. Francis

The Prayer of St. Francis
RBM-020
Solo Violin and SATB Chorus with Piano or Orchestral Accompaniment

This work was commissioned in 2008 by the Texas Christian University music department, to honor beloved teacher Ronald L. Shirey on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as Director of Choral Activities for that institution.

The work is songlike and tonally conceived, and mostly homophonic throughout. There is some divisi in the separate voice parts, but the ranges are conservative and the lines easily sung by student or church choirs as well as professional ensembles. The non-virtuosic violin solo serves to connect passages of choral music into a musical whole, and for which a solo flute may be substituted in performance (downloadable as PDF file below).

This composition is ideally suited for either an academic or church-based program where reverence and lyric beauty are desired, and its performance is generally very warmly received by listeners.


The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
      Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
      Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
      Where there is injury,pardon;
      Where there is doubt, faith;
      Where there is despair, hope;
      Where there is darkness, light;
      And where there is sadness, joy.
      O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
      To be consoled as to console;
      To be understood as to understand;
      To be loved as to love.
      For it is in giving that we receive;
      It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
      And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

( dur: 3:30″ )

All rentals arranged through ECS Publishing.

View: The Prayer of St. Francis – SATB Vocal Score

View: Solo Violin – DOWNLOADABLE PDF

View: Solo Flute (substitute for Solo Violin) – DOWNLOADABLE PDF