Prayers for the end of the day with the Compline Choir.

Digital offering:

Help me, O Lord

Arr. Kevin Siegfried

Source: Shaker, New Lebanon, NY, ca. 1838

Help me, O Lord, thy way to keep,

in truth and in sincerity.

For what I sow, that must I reap

through time and in eternity.

Kevin Siegfried has had a significant impact on the St. John’s community since his wife Abbey Hallberg Siegfried served as our music director some years ago.  He introduced the service of Compline at St. John’s during Lent of 2011, with a men’s choir chanting the service as they do at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, where Kevin and Abbey worshiped while Abbey was in graduate school. 

Kevin wrote this piece for that Compline choir, dedicating it to Peter Hallock, the person best recognized for bringing new life to this ancient tradition of prayer at the close of day.  Kevin’s study of Shaker music has similarly brought attention to texts and tunes from 19th century America that are at once simple and profound.  His harmonic setting of this prayer clothes it in depth and mystery for a modern age.

You can learn more about Kevin by visiting his website: https://kevinsiegfried.com

Featuring members of the St. John's Parish Choir:

Morgan King, Margaret O'Neill, soprano

Christina DeMaio, Jennifer McPherson, alto

Andrew Maurice, Andrew Sokol, tenor

Joseph Harris, Olin Johannessen, bass

John Stromgren, director and author of program notes

Olin Johannessen, technical direction and production

Recorded live in Roberts Hall at St. John's Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH, on March 15, 2023