“In Awe of the Earth” celebrates the earth and its gifts to humankind, with gratitude and awe. It is also an urgent call for the earth’s protection and sustainment. Whether that call is a prayer or a message for human ears is deliberately vague—listeners and performers may interpret as they wish. My adaptation of Psalm 65, a Jewish prayer for rain, removes direct references to God so that a secular interpretation is possible. “In Awe of the Earth” was commissioned by a consortium of choirs: the Mount Holyoke College Glee Club, Director of Choral Activities Colin Britt, Lead Commissioner; as well as the Munich International Choral Society, Artistic Director Mary Ellen Kitchens; the San Diego Women’s Chorus, Artistic Director Kathleen Hansen; and Women’s Voices Chorus, Artistic Director Laura Sam. There are versions for mixed chorus and for treble chorus.
