Come, Beloved of the Maker, is published and available!

"Discover 'Come, Beloved of the Maker' - a new choral piece by Doug McConnell with text by Susan Palo Cherwien, available now from Augsburg-Fortress Music.

I am pleased to announce that Augsburg-Fortress Press in Minneapolis has released a new choral anthem, Come Beloved of the Maker. Written for SATB choir and organ, this anthem is suitable for the Epiphany season, Transfiguration Sunday especially. It also has possible applications during the Advent season.

The anthem features a wonderful text by the late Susan Palo Cherwien, a notable writer of hymns. Over the course of her career, Susan wrote many striking texts which appear in hymnals from various denominations. Several collections published by Augsburg-Fortress, also preserve her fine work. The first stanza of this hymn will provide a taste of her writing style:

Come, beloved of the Maker, come behold the first-born one,

See revealed creation’s splendor crowned in glory like the sun.

See the morning star now beckon to those bound to doubt and night:

“Follow me,” Christ calls to welcome,

“Come from darkness into light.”

In setting this text, I was drawn to the American hymn tune, Jefferson, which first appeared in Southern Harmony, edited by William Walker, in 1835. The tune is familiar to many Christians and works perfectly with Susan’s text. My challenge as a composer was to bring these two important elements together, employing a wide variety of choral textures and techniques. The anthem was written in honor of the Chancel Choir of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, and its director, Dr. Kevin M. Seal.

Now that I am a retired musician, I hope to have more opportunities to write new music for the church. Come, Beloved of the Maker is the first effort in this new project. Augsburg/Fortress is also going to publish a collection of my organ works for the Christmas season; it should be available in the spring of 2026.