Monday, February 09, 2015

Chapel Choir Debuts Anthem By David Arcus


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During the worship service on Sunday, February 8, 2015, the Duke Chapel Choir debuted an original anthem by former Chapel organist Dr. David Arcus. The piece, “O Lord, Hear My Prayer,” was written as a commission. (Click the video player to watch the choir sing it.)

“I wrote ‘O Lord, Hear my Prayer’ in response to a request from my dear friends Jim and Kay Kelly for a choral piece that marked a passage through a difficult illness,” Arcus explained. “Dissonant passages at the beginning of the work announce pain and struggles with the onset of illness, while the message of hope and assurance of God’s presence arrives with soothing, consonant harmonies after a brief silence.”

During the same service the Chapel Choir sang two other original compositions by current and former staff members. One was “Psalm 121” (watch here) by Dr. Robert Parkins, university organist and professor of the practice of music at Duke. The other was another piece by Arcus: “O For a Heart to Praise My God” (watch here).

Learn more about Chapel Music.