I lift My Eyes
"A provocative text combining the sentiment of Psalm 121 (I lift my eyes to the hills), with a quote from the Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Naht Hanh (I am solid as a mountain). The composer opens the piece with a beautiful unison melody set to the biblical text. In typical Szymko style, we are treated to a dramatic exploration of the theme, a harmonization of the original melody, and finally a strong statement to end the piece." - Santa Barbara Music Publishing web site
I lift my eyes to the mountains from whence I get my help,
from whence I get my strength, I lift my eyes.
- Psalm 121:1
I am solid as a mountain
I am firm as the earth.
I am free.
- quote by Thich Naht Hanh
"A provocative text combining the sentiment of Psalm 121 (I lift my eyes to the hills), with a quote from the Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Naht Hanh (I am solid as a mountain). The composer opens the piece with a beautiful unison melody set to the biblical text. In typical Szymko style, we are treated to a dramatic exploration of the theme, a harmonization of the original melody, and finally a strong statement to end the piece." - Santa Barbara Music Publishing web site