Hail to You, O Life Now Fading / Praise to Your Most Holy Rest

Johann Friedrich Peter (1746-1813) was born in Heerendijk, Holland, to German Moravian parents. He was educated in Holland and Germany, and came to America in 1770. Peter appears to have begun composing very shortly after his arrival in the new world. He served the Pennsylvania Moravians in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Lititz, and was sent to Salem, NC, in 1780. Under Peter’s energetic and capable leadership a musical tradition was established in Salem which benefited the community long after his departure in 1790. He afterwards served Moravians in Graceham, MD; Hope, NJ; and Bethlehem, PA. J. F. Peter’s many works have earned him the reputation of being the most gifted of Moravian composers in America. His six string quintets, written in Salem and dated 1789, are the earliest known chamber music written in this country. He died in Bethlehem on July 13, 1813, almost literally at the organ bench, shortly after playing for a children’s service.

Hail to You, O Life Now Fading was edited from the multiple manuscript parts in the Bethlehem, Nazareth and Salem Congregation Collections, and a score in the Salem Scores Collection. The work is scored for flute, bassoon, strings and organ. In SATB choirs, tenors may sing the Soprano 2 part as if written for the tenor. Praise to Your Most Holy Rest was edited from the manuscript copy in the Bethlehem Congregation collection. The work is scored for two flutes, bassoon, two horns, strings, and organ. Full score and parts are available from the Moravian Music Foundation.

The publication of this anthem is dedicated to the choirs and directors of the Salem Congregation churches (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) for their annual Great Sabbath service.