O City! by Curtis Bryant Music published on 2013-05-18T14:51:09Z "O City!" was composed with the following dedication: "In Memory of the Victims of the Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001." American poet Stephen Bluestone (http://www.sbluestone.com/html/bio.htm) wrote the lyrics, which Curtis Bryant set for chorus SATB with piano accompaniment. This track is from the concert performance by The Gregg Smith Singers on a program of American music given at St. Peter's Church in New York City, February 22, 2003 with Gregg Smith conducting and Steven Vosatka at the piano. O CITY! O city on a hill O city by the sea O city on the mountainside O city in the valley O city on the plains O city weep, o city weep O city on the delta O city at the crossroads O city where the rivers meet O city, wake, arise The morning light is near O city weep, o city weep O city of humanity The faces of the free All voices, every language Together in one place. O city of the multitudes The nations of the earth All faiths and all religions Assembled, side by side. The angry storm approaches Dark wings upon the wind The howling of blind hatred And the terror that it brings. The air you breathe is burning the bright sky is on fire the stars are lit in madness The living go in fear. O city weep for love From ashes raise up hope Raise peace up to the heavens In the fury of your heart. --Stephen Bluestone Genre Choral
