Anna’s Song (Soprano and Piano)

Luke tells of the prophet Anna and her contact with the baby Jesus in the Temple.

”The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. And now she was eighty-four years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.

At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.”
Luke 2:36-38 (Contemporary English Version-CEV)

We are only told that she “spoke of the child Jesus.” I decided to develop a song that would tell about her and what her “speaking” might have been. Thus I researched the Psalms for praise especially related to worship in the Temple. I also looked for Psalms of lament that could represent her sorrow in the loss of her husband.

The song opens with a call for everyone to shout praises to God. The first recitative-like section allows Anna to introduce herself and share about her sorrow. A song of lament follows which leads back to a declaration of confidence in God and a desire to praise Him in His Temple.

The second recitative-like section is presented as the words of Anna as she speaks of being old and spending her days in the Temple praying and fasting. However, God has granted her a great blessing. In a cry of joy she declares, “I have seen the promised Messiah.”

Length7 minutes and 50 seconds


Item #V-010
Price6.50

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *