Once again I’ve chosen lyrics by John Birch for this choral arrangement. This prayer contains such vivid imagery celebrating God’s wisdom and power in the creation of the world. I was particularly captivated by the image of God’s laughter creating a wild goose to fly across the universe. Although I’ve chosen to use repeating phrases in the composition, here are the stripped down lyrics:
You spoke and a universe burst into existence.
You breathed and an ocean burst against the shore.
You laughed and a wild goose flew across the universe.
You sang and a love song played for the world.
Can you see it? Hear it? Feel it?
The piano accompaniment begins with triplets and arpeggios to simulate the roiling chaos of the universe prior to God’s creation. The choir enters quietly in awe and reverence and stays quiet until both the universe and the music bursts into existence. The second section ebbs and flows like breathing, and then an ocean that crashes against the shore. The piece later returns to a quiet reverence in the knowledge that God’s amazing love created this world for us and He sings His love song to all who will listen.