The Lord's Prayer
Allen Brings
About this work:
My own setting of The Lord’s Prayer was in response to my having spent the greater part of my life listening to or accompanying singers in the performance of Albert Hay Malotte’s famous setting for solo voice and piano. As well-written as I had to admit this setting was, being composed in the style of the Broadway musical or operetta of the composer’s time, I believe, disqualified it for use in any liturgy that acknowledged Gregorian chant as the music of first preference. Although my own setting does not sound like Gregorian chant, its roots are clearly in its honored tradition. In addition, I wanted the music to be easily learned, in a vocal range suitable to all, and singable with or without any instrumental accompaniment. The principal melody, furthermore, had to be self-sufficient; that is, it had to be singable entirely by itself. Of some interest to musicians is that the harmonic language I chose, as simple as it is, is of the twentieth century and does not employ the familiar triadic usage of the past.
The Lord's Prayer is published by Schaffner Limited Editions and may be obtained from any music dealer.
Version: Four-part chorus of mixed voices
Year composed: 1987
Duration: 00:00:49
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: May be sung with or without instrumental accompaniment. May be performed by sopranos only or even by any solo voice with or without instrumental accompaniment.