My Eyes Have Seen the King

Abstract

This thesis seeks to emphasize through music that worship is our encounter with God, the King of Glory. Worship starts with His initiative to reveal Himself to us. Then, as we see God by faith, we respond to Him and to His actions. The title, My Eyes Have Seen The King , is taken from Isaiah 6:5, when the prophet recognized his human condition in confrontation with the self-revelation of the Lord Most Holy. In fact, the whole narrative of Isaiah 6:1-9 is used in correlation with selected Psalms paraphrases, to convey the message that in worship, God speaks and acts. Biblical texts are employed to persuade the listeners that worship cannot take place without our relationship and response to God. This composition thesis is written for SATB chorus (with occasional divisi ), baritone solo, chamber orchestra, piano, and narrator. The orchestration is comprised of flute, clarinet, horn, trumpet, first and second violins, viola (or third violin), cello, and percussion. In the absence of orchestra, the piano accompaniment may be used alone. This cantata consists of two instrumental pieces, six choral anthems, and four accompanied vocal solo interludes. It contains a mixture of styles including Romantic, traditional, and twentieth-century harmonic and melodic structures. It also features characteristics of the music of Brazil, the country where the composer was born.