CLAY

Composer: Priscilla Wright

Priscilla Wright (b. Dallas, TX, 1928) studied at community colleges in Denver and Dallas and also studied theology at Christ for the Nations Institute of Biblical Studies in Dallas. She worked in inner-city social services for the Church of the Redeemer in Dallas and was the house director for the Dallas Ronald McDonald House, a residence for families of hospitalized children. Wright cites her association with the Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) as the most prominent influence in her life: “There was always the awesome awareness that God was orchestrating a new thing [in charismatic Christian worship], and in retrospect it is evident that the renewal which took place there was a catalyst for renewal in many other parts of the world."… Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: CLAY
Composer: Priscilla Wright (1971)
Meter: Irregular
Incipit: 51232 15512 32175
Key: e minor
Copyright: © 1971, 1975, Celebration/administered by Maranatha! Music

Notes

Like several Bible songs in the Psalter Hymnal, CLAY has a Jewish flavor. Wright designed the tune to flow without pause from the refrain into each stanza and on to the refrain again in continual motion. Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) harmonized the tune in 1986 for the Psalter Hymnal. Here are two performance suggestions: (a) everyone sing the refrain in unison, and one or more soloists or possibly a choir sing the stanzas; (b) everyone sing the refrain in parts, and antiphonal groups alternate on the stanzas. CLAY works well with tambourine, guitar, strings, or possibly hand clapping. The Fisherfolk often perform it with liturgical dance in the style of Hebrew folk dancing.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Organ Solo

  • PedalPoint Volume 12 Number 1 October November December 1992: Church Music and Study Helps for Pianists and Organists
    Composer/Editors Sharron Lyon; Crystal Davis Clay
    Published By: The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (1992) pp. 22

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)

Complete Mission Praise #144

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #240

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #201

Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship #124

Sing and Rejoice! #20

The Covenant Hymnal #116

The Worshiping Church #592

Worship and Rejoice #392

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