The River of Life
02:57 duration|Composed in 2025|Difficulty: Easy|First performed: June 2025
The River of Life was commissioned by Katy Silverman for St Mary’s Church, Battersea, a parish beautifully situated on the banks of the River Thames. The proximity to the river inspired both the choice of text and the title of the piece.
To evoke the imagery of “the water of life, clear as crystal…”, I used shimmering cluster chords to suggest flowing, luminous water – a musical reflection of clarity, movement, and mystery.
Text
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God: the river of life. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 22:1, 4-5