There’s a World Premiere coming to Denver here at Montview. “Let the River Flow” is a new, post-covid, lament and celebration by Ike Sturm and Chandra Rule for choir, soloist, string orchestra and jazz chamber ensemble. The text by Chandra is both inspired by scripture and original; the music stems from Ike’s 17 years as Jazz Minister and Composer at St. Peter’s Episcopal, New York City’s jazz church.

The piece, made up of sixteen songs, was commissioned by Montview’s Westminster Choir and Minister of Music Adam Waite.

“It was mid-pandemic when I started to think about our next spring concert,” explained Adam, “and I came to the realization that perhaps the best presentation would be something new, a jazz-based piece that would touch on what humanity just went through. Something deeply of our time.”

“My thoughts came to rest when I considered Ike Sturm, a composer I knew in New York City who was always writing, had many wonderful collaborators, was always thoughtful plus he’s a really great bass player.” Ike came to Montview during the choir’s 2021 fall retreat, before he had even approached a librettist.

Baritone Dennis Cole remembers that first time we met Ike. “We gathered with Ike to explore many of the spiritual thoughts we had during the pandemic. We were instructed to leave music behind and just be present. We explored and brainstormed, hummed along and suggested verbal connections to the music. We were even able to harmonize and accompany some of the music,” explained Dennis. “It is really rare to be present at the inception of a new piece.”

Ike Sturm’s “community” approach to composition stems from his 17 years of practice as Jazz Minister and composer at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in New York City.

Chanda Rule, librettist, interfaith minister and singer, composed poetic text that was inspired by scripture and is beautifully original. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Chanda is also a published writer and storyteller who has used her music for communal healing around the globe.

“I believe songs are God’s healing balm to the human spirit, and I love to use music to celebrate that unconditional love and honor the downright sacred wholeness of every being,” she said recently.

Chanda and Ike have collaborated previously on many works, including the gospel-based Lord I Am Grateful, Psalm 23 and Wide and Free. Chanda Rule will be travelling from her home in Vienna for the concert (her parents are coming to Denver from Chicago.)  Other travelling musicians include Shane Endsley, trumpet (Colorado Springs), Zach Harmon, drums (Wisconsin), Jesse Lewis, guitar (New Orleans), and Loren Stillman, sax (Brooklyn).

A new work for new times. “Let the River Flow.”

Text from Let the River Flow, Song 6 Psalm 25. Cover Me
Unveil the pathways
To my hidden truths
And there let me tread, freed
Lord, cover me, cover me
Let your love
Cover me, cover me.

Text from Let the River Flow, Song 7. Matthew 5, The Light
Everywhere
Everywhere
Seeking light.

Down in the valley
Right by the stream,
There is a glimmer
Reflecting me.

I am
I am
I am that light.

Text from Let the River Flow, Song 2. Reformation
that the potter’s hands
will brush away the dirt and soil
and make new its fractured body
and make whole its fractured soul.

Text from Let the River Flow, Song 16. Psalm 100 1-5, Prayer of Praise
There’s a peace that overflows inside this grace
And a breadth that can contain all that I am
Whether filled with adoration
Sorrow’d full with lamentation
Through the tides of faith your steadfast love abides.

– Submitted by Dennis Cole & Juli Davidson