Upon The Barren Tree

Transform your Holy Week services with this profoundly moving meditation on Christ’s Passion. “Upon the Barren Tree” draws from one of Scripture’s most prophetic passages—Psalm 22. Composer Michael Myrick has crafted a work of extraordinary emotional depth, translating the raw anguish of the Psalmist into music that pierces the heart. The text paints visceral images of suffering: bones parted, strength emptied, hands and feet pierced—prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s crucifixion. The haunting refrain, “A bitter cup, a broken sigh, the soul’s deep thirst when God is nigh,” captures the paradox of divine abandonment and ultimate redemption. This piece is ideal for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or any Holy Week service where congregations journey with Christ to Calvary. The piano and small orchestra accompaniment provide rich harmonic exploration of the text’s darkness and desolation, while offering moments of profound spiritual intimacy. Let “Upon the Barren Tree” become part of your Holy Week tradition—a musical offering that helps worshipers encounter the depths of Christ’s suffering and the heights of His love!