He that dwelleth in the secret place

A contemplative and affecting setting of the opening two verses of Psalm 91, which tells of God’s protection for those who follow Him, by Cornish composer Becky McGlade, one of the fine emerging voices in the choral world today. The opening section is underpinned by pedal notes in alto and bass, around which the melody weaves, a characteristic which returns in the closing sections, repeating the opening verse of the psalm. The gentle dissonances, occasional shifting tonalities and subtle textural variations are characteristic of McGlade’s music, as is the frequently changing metre. These serve the text and raise the effectiveness of the piece in portraying the meaning of the words in such a beautiful manner. A highly effective short motet, suitable for liturgical and concert performance by intermediate choirs.