Be Thou By Their Side
SATB choral/piano score
PEL2052-Choir and Piano
A WORK FOR SATB CHOIR AND PIANO WITH OPTIONAL RYTHM SECTION OR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Commissioned in honor of the Taft School Collegium Musicum by Mary and David Dangremond, P’05, Bruce Fifer, Taft School Director of Music
Notes
Commissioned in honor of the Taft School Collegium Musicum by Mary and David Dangremond, P’05, Bruce Fifer, Taft School Director of Music
Texts
Be Thou By Their Side
Words: William Amory Gardner (1863-1930), founder of Groton School;
Traditional Irish ca. 700; versified by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931)
and translated by Eleanor H. Hull (1860-1935)
Music: Paul Halley (1952-)
Watch over our School, O Lord, as its years increase; bless and guide your children wherever they may be; keep them unspoiled by the world. Let their hearts be pure, O Lord, with the flame of their early ideals; their faith unshaken, their hopes alive, O Lord, be Thou by their side. When the dark hour shall come upon them, comfort them, help them, strengthen them when they stand; help them when they are weak hearted, and raise them up when they fall.
May Thy abiding love be with them, through all their struggles, through all their trials. May Thy great mercy lead them to heaven, and in their hearts may Thy peace abide all the days of their lives. Amen.
William Amory Gardner
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
All else be nought to me, save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my wisdom, my true word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father; I Thy son;
Thou in me dwelling, I with Thee, one.
Riches I heed not, nor empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou, and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Traditional Irish ca. 700
