God be in my head

This SATB anthem opens with a gentle, almost meditative quality, its textures often imitative as the voices unfold the text. The composer Harrison Hackett draws on a familiar medieval prayer, with the French opening setting a prayer for Christ to be present in thought, sight, speech, heart, and life. The English translation follows, the music swelling slightly to encompass the plea for Jesus to be present even in death. The setting offers a rewarding challenge for a choir seeking a piece with both textual depth and musical substance.