II: I WILL LIFT MY EYES

for SATB a cappella with divisi.

Song: I Will Lift My Eyes
Ensemble: UW-Eau Claire Concert Choir
Conductor: Dr. Gary R. Schwartzhoff


Purchase Sheet Music

Available for SATB with divisi. Purchase sheet music through Colla Voce.

Psalm 121

I will lift my eyes up to the hills.
From whence comes my help? 
My help comes from the Lord.
Who made Heaven and Earth. 

He will not allow your foot to be moved 
He who keep you will not fall
Behold the King of Israel  
Who shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord is your Keeper.
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike thee
By day nor by night.

The Lord shall preserve you
He shall preserve your soul. 
The Lord shall preserve your going out
And your coming in. 

He shall preserve you forevermore 

Amen 


 

Composer Notes: 

Upon hearing, within four weeks of one another, that my young cousin was diagnosed with leukemia, my great uncle's cancer had returned and that my Godfather had been given seven to eight months left to live (as a result of an extremely aggresive form of cancer), I did not know where to turn. With one being in his thirties, another in his sixties and the other being one of the most physically active individuals I know, I had no idea what to expect when it came to the question of, “who could be next?” When things appear to be so dark that one has a known time limit on his or her own life, where does an individual turn to for help?

After hearing the text of Psalm 121 I knew my personal answer. “I will lift mine eyes up to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” No matter what one believes, whether that is a divine force or simply luck, there is always hope. One should not waste their time looking at a situation with the end in mind, because the end could be further than expected. Rather, choose to embrace each moment that life presents to you, whether that is joyful or painful, and live within each day as if it is your last. In the end we all have a time limit, so what will you do to take advantage of this blessing called life?

- Zachary J. Moore


2014 American Prize Press Release 

Composer ZACHARY J. MOORE of Wind Lake, WI has achieved 3rd place nationally in The American Prize competition, 2014, in the student choral division, for his work entitled "I Will Lift MyEyes". Mr. Moore was selected from applications reviewed this summer from all across the United States. The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit competitions unique in scope and structure, designed to recognize and reward the best performing artists, ensembles and composers in the United States based on submitted recordings. The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually in many areas of the performing arts. Complete information on the website: www.theamericanprize.org.
 

 Judge's Comments:
"Zachary Moore's Composition I Will Lift My Eyes is a lyrical setting of the 121st Psalm that shows great sensitivity to its textual meaning. From the three note opening motif in the women's voices, which contains subtle word painting, he sets a tone of supplication, yet resolve, The men answer the women's statement with a gentle response. In the next section (measures 19-20) he uses the same 'lifting' motif as a short canonic device in the women's voices. Moore then builds to a modulation in measure 29 that is quite effective. From this follows a strong statement on the text: The Lords is your keeper, immediately followed by a more comforting section on the text: The sun shall not strike thee. Maintaining this pattern of bold affirmations with more gentle, supplicating sections, Moore seems to achieve his stated goal of questioning life's
meaning."