I Waited Patiently

"I Waited Patiently" is a sacred choral classical Psalm setting using the text of Psalm 86:11 and Psalm 40:1-4. It is for advanced SATB a cappella double chorus with soprano and mezzo soloists. Beginning with a duet of the sopranos and altos of Choir 1, the tranquil, andante tempo takes us on a journey as the layers thicken through modulatory passages of rich jazz harmonies. During Diane's junior year in undergrad at Washington University in St. Louis, while a member of the elite Madrigal Singers under the direction of Dr. Orland Johnson, Diane was asked to write a piece for the group's upcoming tour. It was met with such ovation, that Dr. Johnson asked her to write a second piece. That work, "I Waited Patiently, was revised a decade later during her doctoral studies in composition at UC Santa Barbara. It was then expanded to the current version for double choir and became a part of the collection of works that made up her dissertation. In her notes about the piece, she wrote: "Having two distinct choruses enabled me to thicken the harmonic texture with lush chords which I often use in my Gospel works. The piece weaves in and out of a variety of tonal regions with tertiary relationships. I like to compare these 'harmonic evolutions' to the changing colors of a kaleidoscope. The lesson of waiting on God can be difficult and sometimes painful to learn, but when mastered it brings great peace and serenity, serenity hopefully heard in the final 'Amens.'"