Dona Nobis Pacem (SATB)—Allan Robert Petker

Purchase print edition of the first movement, "Lux," here: https://tinyurl.com/mry2se96
Purchase, download, and print the first movement, "Lux": https://tinyurl.com/3em2sxvt

Dona Nobis Pacem is a social justice statement for choir and orchestra in 6 movements by Allan Robert Petker.

Movement I - Light
Lux aeterna luceat nobis. Dona nobis pacem. O nata lux de lumine, concede nobis, quaesumus almis micare moribus (May light eternal shine upon us, O Lord. Grant us peace. O light born of light, grants us, we pray, to shine with caring lives.)

Movement II - Justice
Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained — Helen Keller

The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty! — Pope Francis

What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8

Movement III - Darkness
Lacrymosa (tears)

Poem Attributed to Julius Caesar:
Beware...who bangs the drums of war... It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights...and gladly so.

Poem by Lizette Woodworth Reese:
When I consider Life and its few years - A wisp of fog betwixt us and the sun; A call to battle, and the battle done Ere the last echo dies within our ears;
A rose choked in the grass; an hour of fears; The gusts that past a darkening shore do beat; The burst of music down an unlistening street, - I wonder at the idleness of tears.

Movement IV - Hope
Navajo Prayer: Walk on a rainbow trail. Walk on a trail of song and all about you will be beauty. There is a way out of every dark mist over a rainbow trail.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I've heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. — Emily Dickinson

Movement V - Faith
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. — Isaiah 40:31

Movement VI - Peace
With malice toward none, with charity for all, ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in, ...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. — Abraham Lincoln

Dona nobis Pacem (Grant us peace)
Alleluia!

© Copyright 2021

See more works by Allan Petker: https://tinyurl.com/2s3vwntk
Follow us on Facebook:   / pavanepublishing