Clare Shore's Tropical Blessing
(a Blessing for St. Francis' Day)

for SAB Chorus and Handbells


Click here to listen to Tropical Blessing
(c. 50 seconds)

The words are by the composer: Praise God, the Father, our Creator!/Bless all of us, He is our maker!/
Bless paw and hoof, burrow and roost;/Bless equine, bovine, canine, feline, Osprey, egret, woodpecker,
Little Blue;/Bless Spot and Puff and Grandma, too. //Praise God, the Father, our Creator!/
Bless all things, even alligator!

Handbells Used: 7

Performance Note
In lieu of a bell choir, the octave "B" handbells may be played by the accompanist, the "F#" by the conductor.
The additional bells on the final chord may be played by the choristers.

Tropical Blessing was written for the 2008 St. Francis' Day "Blessing of the Animals" service at
Calvary United Methodist Church in Lake Worth, Florida, and is dedicated to that congregation
.

USE: St. Francis' Day services, concerts (as Introit, etc.)

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy - for church, high school,
college, community, professional choruses

Tropical Blessing is included in The SPRING 2010 NEW ISSUES of ECS PUBLISHING;
this recording was made on April 6, 2010 at The Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill, MA,
by the
Philovox Ensemble of Boston, directed by Robert Schuneman

NB: The handbells in this recording are synthesized; the final two chords on this recording
should be "tower swings" instead of reiterations.

The following tongue-in-cheek review appeared in CrossAccent,
the Journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
:

"Danger! Do not program if your congregation lacks a sense of humor. One hopes that
rhyming Creator with alligator would bring a smile to even the dourest parishoner.
This short piece is intended to be a whimsical benediction at the conclusion of a
St. Francis Day observance which includes the blessing of animals. The accompaniment
is by a small number of handbells, which could be carried outside. Keyboard
can substitute for the handbells. The choral parts are mostly unison with SAB touches,
and could also be easily performed outdoors. . . this work could offer a happy
conclusion to a St. Francis day worship." 
KAO

To order copies of Tropical Blessing, call E.C. Schirmer toll-free: 1-800-777-1919

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