Peace (My Soul There is a Country)

---

Voicing: SATB a cappella
Text: Henry Vaughan (1622 - 95)
Contact the composer

Notes:
The last number in Three Motets on Texts of Henry Vaughan, Peace was composed in 2001. Peace was premiered by the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers, Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor and recorded on My Soul There Is a Country which was released that same year. Another recording was made by I Coristi, Dr. Debra Cairns, conductor on Songs of the Soul in 2008. Between these two choirs alone, Peace has been sung at an ACDA Convention (Los Angeles, 2005 view, at right) and at Festivals in England and Wales.

My Soul there is a country
Far beyond the stars,
Where stands a winged sentry
All skilfull in the wars,
There, above noise and danger,
Sweet peace sits crown'd with smiles,
And one born in a Manger,
Commands the Beauteous files,
He is thy gracious friend,
And (O! my soul awake!)
Did in pure love descend
To die here for thy sake,
If thou canst get but thither,
There grows the flower of peace,
The Rose that cannot wither,
Thy fortress, and thy ease;
Leave then thy foolish ranges;
For none can thee secure,
But one, who never changes,
Thy God, thy life, thy cure.

from Silex Scintillans, 1650

Performed by: I Coristi Chamber Choir, Dr. Debra Cairns, conductor, from Songs of the Soul, 2008