Lord I Pray Me Down to Sleep, SATB Divisi chorus
This piece is the conjunction of two common Christian prayers, "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" and "the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). The text of this piece portrays the story of a mischievous young child as they prepare for bed, and are comforted by their parent before they fall asleep. Parts of the melody are quoted from Albert Hay Malottee's (1885-1964) The Lord's Prayer, and are act as a foundation in the low voices. The supporting foundation guides the child's troubled mind into a nullified state of contentment before falling tenderly to sleep. The moments of dissonance represent the child's tarriance of toiling between sleep and fear of the night as their parent consolidates their emotions with reason and assurance of celestial guidance.