SATB
Download the Perusal Score (PDF) →
No email required. Open access.
Lyrics
Text adapted from the Book of Habakkuk.
How long, O LORD, will I call for help?
How long, O LORD, will You not hear?
Violence is everywhere!
I cry out, yet You do not save
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Laws ignored
Justice is gone
Righteousness surrounded by evil
Justice perverted
“Look among the nations and observe! Be astonished!
Look in wonder; be utterly amazed
For I am doing something in your days
You would not believe if you were told
For the revelation awaits the appointed time
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail
Though it linger, for it wait
It will surely come and won’t delay.”
LORD, I have heard all about you
I stand in awe of your great deeds
LORD, revive your work
In the midst of our years
In your wrath, remember mercy
I will rejoice in the LORD
In my God of salvation
The LORD is my strength.
About the Music
How Long, O LORD? is built on the prophet Habakkuk’s cry to God — asking why the world is so full of suffering, and how long until He steps in to save. God’s answer: “I am already at work here; you just can’t see it from where you stand.” The music is slower and homophonic, which leaves plenty of room for dynamic phrasing, and the soft sections are a great way to build a choir’s endurance and control. The tenors and basses get their own moments to lead, and it’s a message that still rings true for the world today.
Behind the Music
In 2023, I attended the national American Choral Directors Association conference for the first time. While I was there, I had a booth advertising my music in the exhibit area. As a part of the booth, I held a drawing that people could enter with the chance to win a completely free choral commission from myself. The winner of that drawing was James Keller, director of the Baton Rouge Artists of Choral Excellence at the time.
Since this was a professional ensemble, I wanted to compose something that would feature the quality of tone and power that the group was capable of. I began with the music, and eventually set different sections from the biblical book of Habakkuk. In this book, the prophet Habakkuk is asking God why so many bad things are happening in the world and why He won’t do anything about it. God’s response to Habakkuk is that He is doing something about it; he simply doesn’t have the full picture.
Additional Content Featuring How Long, O LORD?
The online premiere of the ’26–’27 CFM Choral Catalog, which features ten never-before-released choral compositions by Christian Fortner. During this online event, Christian speaks about the primary uses for each piece in your choir program. Whether you direct a middle school, high school, or college-level choir, there is something here for you!
