May This Be a Working Alleluia

Illustration provided courtesy of H.H. Franciscanos de Cruz Blanca

A "roll up your sleeves" embrace of gratitude, work, healing and joy

Commissioned by American Composers Forum's Faith Partners Program

Poet/Lyricist:

Elizabeth Alexander

This festive work's thought-provoking lyric celebrates the progression from Gratitude to Work — then to Healing — and finally to our shared Joy. Opening with a simple unison line sung by the children and building to an irrepressible outpouring of alleluias, this song may be performed with piano accompaniment alone, or with the addition of flute and two trumpets.

Kids sing free! The children's choir part to this song may be downloaded and reproduced for use in performances of the complete work. See item SEA-098-02D below.

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May This Be a Working Alleluia

Lyrics by Elizabeth Alexander

As we celebrate the bounty we’ve been given this hour,
May this be a grateful alleluia.
For this day and this bread, for each seed and each flow’r,
May this be a grateful alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Let this be our prayer as we greet each moment with a song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
May this be a grateful alleluia.

As the change we wish to see becomes the change that we make,
May this be a working alleluia.
Though we may not succeed, that’s a chance we will take.
May this be a working alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Let this be our prayer as we greet each moment with a song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
May this be a working alleluia.

As we work to make this world a more compassionate place,
May this be a healing alleluia.
Bridging painful divides, bearing comfort and grace,
May this be a healing alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Let this be our prayer as we greet each moment with a song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
May this be a healing alleluia.

As the love of God is offered to the world through our hands,
May this be a joyful alleluia.
As the broken is mended and justice expands,
May this be a joyful alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Let this be our prayer as we greet each moment with a song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

May this be a joyful alleluia,
May this be a grateful alleluia,
May this be a healing alleluia,
May this be a working alleluia.

Composer's Note:

The original performance of this piece also included a set drummer — a fine choice if you have one handy!

Performers:

Choirs of Trinity Lutheran, Watertown Evangelical Free and Immaculate Conception Churches / Elizabeth Alexander (Watertown, MN) * Premiere

Choirs of Mayflower United Church of Christ / Nancy Grundahl (Minneapolis, MN)

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Genres:

Choral