for mixed voices (SATB div) a cappella
Text: English (Marty Haugen)
Duration: c2 minutes
Difficulty: 3/5

Let us build a house is the closing hymn of Kim André Arnesen’s large-scale work, The Stranger. Instead of a typical majestic ending to a large work, Arnesen went for a quiet one with only an unaccompanied choir. As the composer comments, ‘sometimes a message feels stronger like that and makes us listen more carefully’. The text is from the hymn by Marty Haugen, which concludes ‘Let us bring an end to fear and danger: All are welcome in this place.’ A stillness and serenity pervades this short piece, suitable for intermediate choirs.

Text
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
Let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

Marty Haugen
from ‘All Are Welcome’, © copyright 1994 GIA Publications, Inc
All rights reserved. Used by permission

Kim André Arnesen
Arnesen is one of the most frequently performed composers from Norway today. He grew up in Trondheim where he was a chorister in Nidaros Cathedral, later being educated at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim. With an interest in baroque music, contemporary classical music, and popular music, Kim could have taken many roads, but choral music became his greatest passion. His works have been performed in more than 30 countries around the world. His albums Magnificat (2014) and Infinity (2018) received excellent reviews and reached the top of the iTunes classical charts. He continues to enjoy a busy international schedule of commissions as well as guest appearances at festivals and other choral events. Arnesen has been a house composer at Boosey & Hawkes since 2017.