Description
This piece is dedicated to a very special young woman who lost her life way too early: Heather Michelle Menzie. She was a violinist, and the violin part in this song represents her. My favorite musical moment in the entire song is at the very end, in the last four measures, when the tonality shifts to an F major chord, a chord that has not yet been heard in the piece. The violin floats up and away at this moment, signaling her ascent, and the piece ends with a beautiful flourish from the harp and piano.
Clements High School Chorale Women; Janet Menzie, Conductor Southwestern Region: American Choral Directors Association Conference
Text
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1 James 2-4, NIV