Description
Kallman Creates Publications
SATB a cappella. Some divisi. Duration: 5’45”
Listen to “A Future With Hope”
(Magnum Chorum (MN), Ralph Johnson conducting)
View “A Future With Hope”
Composer’s Notes
This work was commissioned for the Nordic Choir of Luther College by the family of David Winter, a classmate of mine at Luther and a member of Nordic in the late 1970’s. After years of living honorably with a debilitating disease, David died of multiple sclerosis in 1999, and this anthem was written to his memory. It is also dedicated by the Winter family to Weston Noble, conductor of the choir and a mentor and friend to David during his illness. The biblical texts are taken from Jeremiah, Isaiah and the Gospel of John. Many of these texts were a source of comfort to David and his family during the course of his illness and some were read at his funeral. Nordic premiered the work in May 2003, and they also performed it a dozen times on their European tour the following month. Here is the text:
Is there any word from the Lord? There is!
“You shall be a people in exile,
But when you are sent
Build your houses, plant your gardens,
Marry and have sons and daughters.
Be my people there.
And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you,
And pray to the Lord on its behalf.”
Is there any word from the Lord? There is!
“You have a future with hope!
For the days are surely coming
When I will raise up for David a righteous branch.
And he shall reign as a wise king,
And shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
For surely I know the plans I have for you,
Plans for your welfare and not for harm.
To give you a future with hope!
For I have called you by name and you are mine.
I have brought you back from where I sent you.
I have let you find me again, and I will restore you.
I have unbound you and let you go.”
Amen. May the Lord do so.
–Daniel Kallman (adapted from Jeremiah 23, 28, 29 and 37; Isaiah 43; and John 11)
