Hamrick 7s

I wrote "Hamrick" quickly in a moment of inspiration while in Oklahoma City during the late fall of 2006. I returned to the song to make reveisions several times in 2007 and made additional small changes in 2009 and 2019. During a period when I was mostly trying to write complicated fuging tunes, this song was an attempt to follow Raymond C. Hamrick's advice to me to pare things down and try to write more simply. Mr. Hamrick has been a kind and generous mentor and friend to me, and this song is dedicated to him. More than any other song I've written to date, I think this tune suggests the beautiful, full, rich chords that Mr. Hamrick writes, and displays my indebtedness to him as a composer.

"Hamrick" is one of three songs of mine included in the fifth edition of The Northern Harmony (2012). Prior to its publication it was sung at Camp Fasola in 2007, at composiums at the 2008 Berkshire Foothills Singing and the 2009 All-California Convention, and at a handful of practice singings in Europe and North America.

Lord, I would be as Thou art;
Give me Thine obedient heart;
Thou art pitiful and kind,
Let me have Thy loving mind.

Let me, above all, fulfill
God my heav'nly Father's will;
Never His good Spirit grieve;
Only to His glory live.