Soli Deo Gloria

Photo: Mats Bäcker

Sven-David Sandstrom
God Be Merciful

A six-part a cappella choral work (SSATBB) by one of Sweden’s most performed living composers. The work is part of the SDG Psalms Project and is based on the text of Psalm 67: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us." Duration: 6 minutes.

World Premiere
October 29, 2011

Kantorei
Andrew Megill, conductor
Bristol Chapel
Westminster Choir College
Princeton, NJ

Westminster Kantorei

In collaboration with the Sacred Music Department of Westminster Choir College, Soli Deo Gloria commissioned the a cappella choral work God Be Merciful by Sven-David Sandström. No composer has made such an impression on contemporary Swedish musical life as Mr. Sandström. His impressive catalog of works includes some 300 compositions, ranging from operas and oratorios to intimate choral and chamber music. In recent years, he has been focusing especially on sacred choral music, with such works as his Messiah, commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival and set to the same text as Handel's well-known version.

Composer Sandström
working with students
at Westminster Choir College

Mr. Sandström's arrival on campus was a major event for the students at Westminster Choir College, one of the finest choral schools in the U.S. In sessions preceding the performance, students had the opportunity to meet and interact with this world-renowned composer. Mr. Sandström described his desire to create “smooth and beautiful sounds” and shared this personal statement: “Before I die, I wish to see church music flowering as it was in 1650.”

The premiere of God Be Merciful, sung by the Kantorei choir and conducted by Andrew Megill, concluded a day-long Symposium on Music for the Modern Church,  in which Mr. Sandström partcipated both as a presenter and panelist. Though a surprise early winter storm threatened to cancel the event, the concert went forward as planned, uplifting the spirits of the listeners with its sonorous chords and unique rhythmic textures. The program included one other work by Mr. Sandström, Hear My Prayer, and two other world premieres: Daniel Elder's O magnum mysterium and Blake Henson's Hodie Christus natus est. In addition, the program included a performance of Daniel Kellogg's SDG-commissioned work Preserve Me, O God (the first commission in the SDG Psalms Project).

(left to right) Andrew Megill, conductor;
Irene Forte, SDG Project Manager;
Sven-David Sandström, composer
at the premiere of God Be Merciful

Kantorei is a chamber choir specializing in early and contemporary repertoire. Conductor Andrew Megill has been on the faculty of Westminster Choir College of Rider University for 20 years, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and performance practice. Dr. Megill also serves as Chorusmaster for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and as Associate Conductor and Director of Choirs for the Carmel Bach Festival. He has prepared choruses for many leading conductors and orchestras, including Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra, Dutoit/Philadelphia Orchestra, Masur/New York Philharmonic, and Nagano/Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a guest conductor and teacher for the Juilliard Opera Center, Yale Insitute of Sacred Music, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Psalm 67 (King James Version)

1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.