Sit Down, Servant
SATB choir, unaccompanied
Negro Spiritual
Click here for perusal score and to purchase.
Commissioned by the Board of Directors of the Legend Singers, Dr. Doris Jones Wilson, conductor, for the 75th Anniversary Season
This contemporary spiritual setting combines a familiar spiritual with a Biblical text from the book of Matthew. Featuring a first and last section with marked rhythms and heavy accents, the middle section is rubato and expressive. (Publisher description)
“Sit Down, Servant is a rhythmic, fresh approach to this beloved concert spiritual… Harmonically, Garrett provides brief examples of modern cluster harmony that serves to set this arrangement apart from its predecessors. Uniquely, Garrett also provides a beautiful central motet using Jesus’s famous quote from St. Matthew’s Gospel…”
Sit down, servant. I can’t sit down.
Sit down and rest a little.
Sit down, servant. Can’t sit down.
Soul so happy, Lord, I can’t sit down.
That ain’t all, you know, you promised me,
promised me a long, white robe and a starry crown.
That ain’t all, you know, you promised me,
promised me a starry crown and a pair of wings.
Know you mighty tired, so sit down.
Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me;
for I am meek and lowly of heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
- Matthew 11:28-29