Shop for Music
About the Composer
Timothy C. Takach
Timothy C. Takach Publications
Keep Watch, Dear Lord
A serene prayer for God to watch over those who are suffering.
SATB a cappella
This hymn-like setting is a serene prayer for God to watch over those who are suffering. Takach has made adaptations to the text from the Book of Common Prayer to emphasize song form, familiarity, and comfort. This setting is equally at home in a worship service or on the concert stage.
Composer’s Notes
When I wrote “Keep Watch, Dear Lord” for the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, the text had already been chosen from the Book of Common Prayer. I’m reluctant to set this kind of well known public domain text without giving it a new shape for the singers and the audience. So I took some liberties: reshaping the text into stanzas and adding the repetition of some lines, which ended up lending itself to a more traditional song form. I believe this allows the music to give new context to the words, providing those who know the prayer with a new way to hear and absorb it.
The repetition of this text makes it feel almost like a mantra – a calming refrain that serves as a reminder. We’ve all been at the side of someone who is sick, or weary, or troubled, or dying, and as compassionate people we want to do whatever we can to help ease the suffering. But at a certain point we realize that nothing we can do will help. We have to give that responsibility over to a higher power. In this text we are asking God to take over and keep watch.
Much of this writing is quiet, but when the dynamics do rise, let yourselves make this a more fervent, direct prayer, full of passion and hope.
– Timothy C. Takach, 2018
Text
Keep watch, dear Lord, keep watch.
Keep watch, dear Lord, keep watch.
Keep watch with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
Give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, dear Lord, tend the sick.
Tend the sick, dear Lord, tend the sick.
Give rest to the weary, and bless the dying,
Tend the sick, dear Lord, tend the sick.
Soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted,
shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake.
Keep watch, dear Lord, keep watch.
Keep watch, dear Lord, keep watch.
Tend the sick. Bless and give rest.
Keep watch, dear Lord, keep watch.
– Book of Common Prayer, Order for Compline Service
– adapted by TCT
$1.60 per licensed PDF
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.