By the Waters of Babylon

Philip Hayes's By the Waters of Babylon is a sacred canon for three equal voices. The text, drawn from Psalm 137, reflects the sorrow and longing of the exiled Israelites by the rivers of Babylon. The composer uses the canonic form to create a powerful sense of unity and shared lament. As the voices enter one by one, building on the initial melodic and textual ideas, the feeling of weeping and remembrance intensifies, mirroring the emotional weight of the biblical verses. This setting would serve as a poignant reflection on loss and faith.