Sea and Shore

Sea and Shore was commissioned by the Lakewood Area Choral Society to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The last section of Henry Van Dyke's ode in praise of music seemed ideal for the purpose. Knowing that Van Dyke's best-known work was the hymn he wrote to the thrice-familiar tune from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (subtitled, ever so appropriately in his case, Choral) inspired the exultant ending.- Frank DeWald -