Augsburg Fortress

This Is the Day

This Is the Day

A festive setting of the Isaac Watts text for choir and organ, and optional brass, timpani, and cymbal. The middle section is a quieter reflection on Psalm 118 with organ obligato. The intro reappears and is followed by a "Praise God" doxology. The SA(T)B setting will work for smaller choirs without brass, and an alternate Easter text is also included for that season.

Sheet Music
ISBN: 9781506422176
  • In stock
$2.75

Instrumental Parts

Digital Download
ISBN: 9781506422190
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  • This product is also available for download on Prelude Music Planner
  • * Note: you must purchase the quantity that you intend to print locally
$15.00
  • Publisher Augsburg Fortress
  • Format Digital Download; Sheet Music
  • ISBN 9781506422176; 9781506422190
  • Brand Augsburg Choral Library
  • Version Instrumental Parts
  • Season/Occasion Easter; General; Thanksgiving
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Voicing Organ; SATB/4-part mixed

Composer Commentary

"This Is the Day" began as a set of short liturgical pieces and was inspired by part of the second movement  of Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, a slow hymn-like brass section respite from the "game of doubles" scherzo. From that came a benediction, an introit (This Is the Day), Agnus Dei, and others. Meter as well as some harmonic and melodic phrases are all that remain of Bartók. The choirs that sang the introit liked it but complained that it was too short, and that I should expand it into an anthem. After a few years I added a brass, timpani, and organ intro to precede the call to worship, and then wrote a more lyrical hymn of thanks from Psalm 118 for the middle section, which is mostly an imitative duet. The original intro re-appears and moves into an ultimate hymn of thanks, the doxology. As I kept looking at it, I realized that most churches use brass mainly for Easter, so I added an appropriate alternative text for that season. I decided to make it SA(T)B so that smaller choirs could perform it with brass, with just 3 trumpets or just with organ. Altos who complain of boring  two-note parts may find this a piece a bit more challenging.

The exuberance for the gift of the "Day of the Lord" gives way to a sweet reflection on the goodness of God and the gift of salvation, and then ends with a noisy "Praise God."
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