Guard You Heart and Mind - For SATB Chorus and Piano or Treble Instruments

Commissioned by Grace University Lutheran Church
as part of the 2019-2020 Composer in Residence Program 

Guard Your Heart and Mind
The peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.​

Program Note:
In the midst of the COVID-19 shelter in place order, I began to notice this text from Philippians circling the internet, social media, and conversations around the stress, fear, and unknown of the global pandemic. It shares a beacon of hope for those who seek the peace of God in their lives. Musically, I highlighted this idea of peace and stillness with a mantra-like repetition of the text and unchanging musical atmosphere to support the voices, created from a cyclical rhythmic pattern.