On the Wings of the Morning

First published in 1999, “On the Wings of the Morning” was commissioned as a memoriam anthem by FBC Roanoke, VA. The lyrics, written by the late Claire Cloninger, are based on Psalm 139. Her words dictated both the extended form of the anthem and the dramatic tone of the music, beginning in mystery, rising to strength, then returning to mystery.

Upon a casual listening to this new iteration, anyone familiar with the original publication might assume the two versions are the same. However, this new release has subtle but significant improvements. This version is shorter. (The original was self-indulgently long, I admit.) The voice-part writing has been improved, making the anthem not only easier to sing, but also to sound better. The piano accompaniment has been overhauled and stands stronger when presented without the orchestral accompaniment. I also went through the available orchestral accompaniment with a fine-toothed comb to make better use of each section of the orchestra, improving voicings, and cleaning up things overall.

As with all the Legacy releases, the anthem and the orchestration has been re-typeset with a cleaner, sharper appearance. “On the Wings of the Morning” is ideal for any situation where Psalm 139 is itself appropriate – which is just about any time and any place.