Bay Area Chorus - God Of Our Fathers - arr. Mary McDonald

"Celebrating Our Heroes" - Veterans Day 2024
The Bay Area Chorus of Greater Houston
The Bay Area Chorus of Greater Houston salutes to the brave men and women who served in our armed forces.
The concert was held on November 10, 2024 in Houston, Texas under the direction of Artistic Director Barry Talley.
Access the program at drive.google.c...
"God Of Our Fathers" arr. Mary McDonald
Artistic Director - Barry Talley
Pianist - Sheila Keyes
God of Our Fathers is a 19th-century American Christian hymn, written in 1876 to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The hymn was written by Daniel C. Roberts, a priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Roberts had served in the American Civil War in the 84th Ohio Infantry.
President Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration in 1981 included a world premiere of a new
work for the Marine Band. Chief arranger Thomas Knox was tasked to create a new setting
of the well-known hymn God of Our Fathers for the inaugural ceremony. The ink on the new
arrangement was barely dry on January 20, 1981, when the Marine Band performed the
dramatic music between the oaths taken by the new Vice President and President. This
classic American hymn has been played at every presidential inauguration since.
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past; in this free land with thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay, thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase; thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh thy people on their toilsome way; lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.