Come, Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts

About the Composition This piece was written for and chosen as the winner of the Sacred Music Composition Competition by University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX. The goal of the competition was to encourage new sacred choral writing for the often overlooked Christian feast day of Pentecost, the commemoration of the day the Holy Spirit Descended upon the disciples of Jesus with tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4). The text is from the old Latin chant and prayer, Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum. The text is about the Holy Spirit being sent forth to make us into new creations. While we may not have tongues of fire appear above our heads like the first Apostles, the Holy Spirit can and does still kindle and warm our cold hearts towards God and our neighbors. The writing in this piece includes many contemporary choral techniques with subtle motifs and musical gestures that paint an image of wind and fire. Though the piece is undeniably modern, it is also unashamedly sacred, drawing upon contrapuntal and polyphonic elements that have characterized sacred choral music for the better part of a thousand years. It is the composer's hope that this piece will continue to inspire first, a love of God because of His many gifts to us, and second, a love and appreciation for sacred music in our culture today. May God bless you in your music making, Gabriel Sternberg