Things have been a little hectic around here for the past few months with barely a moment to catch my breath. When I have been able to sit down at the piano, I have reached for Chopin’s Preludes — G Minor and G# Minor especially. They have matched my frenzied mood. So when I randomly picked up a pencil and staff paper these first four agitated, driven lines came spilling out.
Didn’t know what to do with them at first until the hymn Master, the Tempest Is Raging came to mind. The time signature didn’t quite fit but not far into it I adopted a 6/8 time signature to remedy that.
Storms of life come and go. Some are mild, others knock me off my feet. When I land on my knees it is always Christ stilling the tempest that brings peace to my soul. I’ll keep searching the skies for rainbows after the storms and maybe even learn to dance in the rain.
1. Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
2. Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
3. Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
-Mary Ann Baker
Click HERE to download free sheet music
I'm doing this one for a Stake Conference performance and it is everything I ever wanted in this song. I love the song's message, but (I think) it's a total drag to sing as a congregational hymn. Your arrangement gives me all the DRAMA this song deserves without having to stretch my tiny hands into octaves the whole song...I love playing out the contrasts. The way you composed this puts a lot of rich imagery in my head, which makes it extra-super-fun to play. Thank you for spending your time making this!
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