Opus number: op. 87

Title: Unchanging Love, a hymn based on a text by Romulus Linney

Instrumentation: SATB choir

Text: Romulus Linney

Text: click here

Jesus defend us, O sweet mercy send us,

O angels attend us with unchanging love,

Jesus defend us and sweet mercy send us,

And angels attend us from heaven above.

Angels attend us Sweet mercy send us,

Angels attend us Sweet mercy send us,

Jesus defend us, O sweet mercy send us,

O angels attend us with unchanging love,

Angels attend us Sweet mercy send us

Angels attend us Sweet mercy send us,

Unchanging love.

Date written: 2006

Length: two minutes

Premiere performance: September 15, 2009, Berklee Performance Center. (See op. 90, Holy Ghosts)

Program Notes: Unchanging Love, Op. 87, is a hymn written in an SATB format for congregational singing. Not only is it the basis for the beginning and end of the opera Holy Ghosts, but it also provides most of the material for “Unchanging Love” for brass quintet and organ. The text comes from the conclusion of Romulus Linney’s play, Holy Ghosts: “Jesus, defend us, oh mercy send us, and angels attend us from heaven above. Jesus defend us, oh mercy send us, and angels attend us with unchanging love.”