Meditation No. 3

This piece, composed in April 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, is a reflection on the hymn, The King of Love My Shepherd Is which is itself a setting of Psalm 23. In a time of turmoil and crisis, this piece provides soothing harmonies and predictable phrases. Fifths, octaves, and root position chords add a sense of stability. Even in the middle section which explores uncertainty through exploiting the dark qualities of the augmented 2nd and raised 7th found in the harmonic minor, the pedaled B in the bass provides a constant foundation while the melody swirls about in rhythmic ambiguity. Repeated notes in the transitional sections express the persistence in hope and faith. The form of the piece returns it to where it began, in peace and contentment, capturing the essence of Psalm 23.