SAM

PLEhoral Series

1 . 8 0 0 . 5 4 8 . 8 7 4 9 o c p . o r g

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland OR, 97213. All rights reserved.

Holy DarknessAssembly, Cantor, SATB Choir,

Keyboard, Violin, Viola, Cello, French Horn, and GuitarDan Schutte

Inspired by John of the Cross Arranged by Bob Harrold

a tempo

Tenor

Bass a tempo

Soprano/MelodyREFRAIN I:

Ho ly

a tempo

dark ness, bless ed night, heav en’s

simile

Keyboard

INTRO: Peacefully ( = 52 )

rit.

Alto

Peacefully ( = 52 )

SAM

PLE

2

Edition 9906-Z Holy Darkness

si lence, we em brace your ho ly night.

an swer hid den from our sight. As we a wait you, O God of

SAM

PLE

3

Holy Darkness

rit.

1-2

molto rit.

3

molto rit.

1.2.3.

loneraggive

liingcom

storm,mand

ness

?

rit.

therethis

Why

Iisdo

willtheyou

plantlove

doubt

mythatmy

saves.seed.

1-2molto rit.

pow’r

3molto rit.

?

1.2.3. guide

taughtstood

yourbethe

soulfore

morn

totheing

grieve.grave.star?

InThough

Does

themythe

lovehawk

barcanren

take

soilseemflight

oflike

when

youra

you

VERSES 1-3:

1.2.3.

Cantor:

Were

II

havehaveyou

Slightly faster

triedtaughtthere

youyou

when

intheI

firespriceraised

ofofup

afcomthe

flicpas

moun

tion;

tainssion;

?

IyouCan

havehaveyou

SAM

PLE

4

Holy Darkness

sight. As we a wait you, O God of si lence, we em

a tempo

Tenor

Bass a tempo

REFRAIN II:Soprano

Alto

Ho ly

a tempo

dark ness, bless ed night, heav en’s an swer hid den from our

SAM

PLE

5

Holy Darkness

Tenor

Bass

Alto

5.4. In

Asyourthe

deepwatch man

est hourwaits

offor

darkmorn

nessing,

Iand

willthe

VERSES 4-5:Soprano / Melody

4.5.

InAs

yourthe

Faster, with more energy

deepwatch

estman

hourwaits

offor

darkmorn

nessing,

Iand

willthe

1-2 to Verses 4 & 5 Final8va

Fine

brace your ho ly night.

1-2 to Verses 4 & 5 Final

night.

Fine

SAM

PLE

6

Holy Darkness

rit. molto rit.

rit. molto rit.

4.5.

spirfoot steps

it, willas

mywe

richrest

rit.

esbe

fillneath

molto rit.

youryour moon.

soul.

4.5.

spirfoot steps

it, willas

mywe

richrest

rit.

esbe

fillneath

molto rit.

youryour moon.

soul.

4.5.

givebride

youa

wealthwaits

unher groom,

told. Whenso

thewe

siwait to

lence stillshear

youryour

4.5.

givebride a

you wealthwaits

unher groom,

told. Whenso we

thewait

sito

lencehearstills your

your

to Refrain II

to Refrain II

SAM

PLE

7

VIOLIN/VIOLA Dan SchutteArranged by Bob Harrold

Fine

FINAL REFRAIN:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo)

rit.

rit.

molto rit.

molto rit.

1to Refrain II

2to Final Refrain

VERSES 4,5:

4.5.

In your deepest hour. . .As the watchman. . .

Faster, with more energy

rit.

rit.

1molto rit.

molto rit.

2molto rit.

molto rit.

REFRAIN II:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo)

VERSES 2,3:

2.3.

I have taught. . .Were you there. . .

Slightly faster

REFRAIN I:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo) 4

As we a-wait. . .

INTRO: Peacefully ( = 52 )3

REFRAIN:

Holy darkness. . .

7Tacet

1.

VERSE 1:

I have tried you. . .

7Tacet

Holy Darkness

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

SAM

PLE

8

CELLO Dan SchutteArranged by Bob Harrold

Fine

rit. molto rit.

1to Refrain II

2to Final Refrain

FINAL REFRAIN:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo)

VERSES 4,5:

4.5.

In your deepest hour. . .As the watchman. . .

Faster, with more energy

rit. molto rit.

1

molto rit.

2 REFRAIN II:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo)

VERSES 2,3:

2.3. Were you there. . .

I have taught. . .

Slightly faster

REFRAIN I:

Holy darkness...

(a tempo)4

As we a - wait. . .

INTRO: Peacefully ( = 52 )3

Holy darkness. . .

REFRAIN :7

Tacet

1.

VERSE 1:

I have tried you. . .

7Tacet

Holy Darkness

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

SAM

PLE

9

FRENCH HORN Dan SchutteArranged by Bob Harrold

rit. molto rit.

1to Refrain II

2tacet à fine

FINAL REFRAIN:

Holy darkness. . .

7 Fine

VERSES 4,5:

4.5.

In your deepest hour. . .As the watchman. . .

Faster, with more energy

REFRAIN II:

Holy darkness. . .

(a tempo)3

2.3.

love. . .hawk. . .

rit. molto rit.

1 2

molto rit.

REFRAIN I:

Holy darkness...

(a tempo)

7

2.3.

VERSES 2,3:

Were you there. . .I have taught. . .

4Slightly faster

Though myDoes the

INTRO: Peacefully ( = 52 )3

REFRAIN:

Holy darkness. . .

7Tacet

1.

VERSE 1:

I have tried you. . .

7Tacet

Holy Darkness

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

SAM

PLE

Holy Darkness10

Inspired by John of the Cross Dan Schutte

1.2.3.

taughtstoodguide

E

yourbethe

soulforemorn

totheing

grieve.grave.star

Am

?

Am7/G

InThough

Does

themythe

barlovehawk

D

rencantake

soilseemflight

D/C

oflike

when

youra

you

VERSES 1-3:

1.2.3.

II

Were

havehaveyou

Slightly faster

triedtaughtthere

D

youyou

when

intheI

firespriceraised

D/F

ofofup

afcomthe

flicpas

moun

G

tion;sion;tains

G/B

?

IyouCan

havehaveyou

si

C

lence,

C/B

we em brace

Am7

your ho

D

ly night.

1-5

*

Gsus4 GVerses

to

Final

G

night.

Fine

hid

D

den from our sight.

Gsus4 G

As we

G/F

a wait

Em

you,

Em7/D

O God of

REFRAIN:

Ho

– 3 times– thereafter

ly

a tempo

dark

G

ness,

D/F

bless ed night,

Em Em7/D

heav en’s an

C

swer

INTRO: Peacefully ( = 52 )

G D/F Em Em7/D Frit.

Am Dsus4 D

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213.

*Crescendo before Verses 4-5 only.

SAM

PLE

11

Holy Darkness

4.5.

Em

spirfoot steps

it, willas

mywe

Fmaj7

richrest

rit.

esbe

Am

fillneath

molto rit.

youryour moon.

soul.

Dsus4 DD. S.

4.5.

C

givebride

youa

D

wealthwaits

unher groom,

told.

Bm Em

Whenso

thewe

C

siwait

o

lenceto

B7

stillshear

youryour

VERSES 4-5:

4.5.

InAs

yourthe

Faster, with more energy

C

deepwatch

o

estman

B7

hourwaits

offor

Em

darkmorn

nessing,

Iand

willthe

1.2.3.

G/B

loneraggive

liingcom

storm,mand

ness

Em

?

C

therethis

Why

Iisdo

willtheyou

Am

plantlove

doubt

mythatmy

saves.pow’r

seed.

molto rit.Dsus4

?

DD. S.rit.

Performance NotesThis hymn offers the image of darkness as the place where God's silent, imperceptible love reaches out tous. This is in contrast to the vision of darkness as the place most void of God's presence. Inspired by theworks of St. John of the Cross, the piece works well whenever the liturgy attempts to reach out to thosewho are experiencing God's darkness: the sick, the dying, the homeless, the desperate. In addition to thefuneral and anointing liturgies, this song finds an obvious home during the early part of the Easter Vigil,sung perhaps in darkness before the lighting of the new fire.

Holy Darkness is quiet but not lifeless; serious but not somber. Even though it touches often painful,barren places in our souls, there is still a glimmer of hope in the feel of this song.

Though composed originally for keyboard, this piece works equally well with guitar accompaniment. Itshould be picked rather than strummed, using a simple, unobtrusive pattern.

As for tempo, this is one of those pieces that calls for much rubato to enhance the expression of thephrases. Do not let the accompaniment become mechanical.

The Refrain and Verses are in dialogue with each other. In the Refrain we sing of our darkness and ourwillingness to embrace it, while in the Verses God names our experience of the darkness and reassures usof the holiness of our “night.” Because of this, there should be a slightly different feel to the Verses andRefrain.

— D.S.

SAM

PLE

12

Assembly EditionHOLY DARKNESS

Dan Schutte

© 1988, 1993, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP Publications,5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

4.5.

spirfoot

it,steps

willas

mywe

richrest

esbe

fillneath

youryour

soul.moon.

4.5.

wealthwaits

unher

told.groom,

Whenso

thewe

siwait

lenceto

stillshear

youryour

4.5.

VERSES 4-5: Choir

InAs

yourthe

deepwatch

estman

hourwaits for

of darkmorn ing,

ness Iand the

willbridegive you

a

1.2.3.

loneraggive

liingcom

storm,mand?

ness therethisWhy

Iisdo

willtheyou

plantlove

doubt

mythatmy

saves.seed.

pow’r?

1.2.3.

stoodguide

taught

the

yourbe

soulfore

morn

totheing

grieve.grave.star?

ThoughDoes

mythe

lovehawk

cantake

seemflight

likewhen

ayou

2.1.

3.

VERSES 1-3: Cantor

II

Werehavehave

you there

triedtaught

you

whenyou the

in

I

fires

raisedprice of

up

ofcom

af

the

flic

mounpas

tains?

tion;sion;

IyouCan

have

youhave

si lence, we em brace your ho ly night.

hid den from our sight. As we a wait you, O God of

REFRAIN: All

Ho ly dark ness, bless ed night, heav en’s an swer

Fine

to Refrain

to Refrain

In the bar ren soil of your

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