Background Notes

In many translations, the transfiguration text, which served as a starting point for this hymn, uses the verb “behold.” In its common usage, behold means “to look” or “to see;” however, behold also connotes deeper meaning such as “to discern,” “to contemplate,” and “to feast with one’s eyes.”  In this sense, repeated usage of the word “behold” in this hymn invites us to consider the many manifestations of God’s majesty and mystery (e.g., sun, wind, quiet dark of night, wisdom, peace) not merely from the point of view of simple seeing. Rather, this text is intended as a song of praise where we are reminded to “feast with our eyes” and contemplate a greatness that exceeds human capacity or engineering. The musical treatment drew heavily on Cooper’s admiration for the styles of David Haas and Marty Haugen.