Anthem 33 - I call with my whole heart

Welcome to Anthem 33 in my attempt to write a new choir anthem every week for a year. I’m Kevin Mulryne and I hope you will enjoy listening to my progress throughout 2024. Please do visit the website Anthem52.com, follow along on x.com - @realanthem52 or Instagram - @realanthem52 and send me a message to show@anthem52.com.

THis week's text comes from a very long psalm - cxix (119). It is split up in the Irish Book of Common Prayer into many sections and the words I chose are verses 145 - 152. There are a lot more words than I usually set and I think that's at least partly down to how the process went. It was comparatively easy to write this anthem. It seemed to flow better than last week's. I don't know if the end result is better or worse but the resulting anthem feels fairly complete and coherent.

I call with my whole heart : hear me, O Lord, I will keep thy statutes.

Yea, even unto thee do I call : help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

Early in the morning do I cry unto thee : for in thy word is my trust.

Mine eyes prevent the night-watches : that I might be occupied in thy words.

Hear my voice, O Lord, according unto thy loving-kindness : quicken me according as thou art wont.

They draw nigh that of malice persecute me : and are far from thy law.

Be thou nigh at hand, O Lord : for all thy commandments are true.

As concerning thy testimonies, I have known long since ; that thou hast grounded them for ever.