Song of Peace

SAB

“I performed this piece with 6 students voiced with 3 sopranos, 2 altos and one baritone. The music was easily learned and the harmonies blended so beautifully with my choir size. The music and digital tracks were easy to download for part rehearsals and accompaniment. The message and lyrics to Song of Peace were beautifully written to reflect going through hard times. They were very relatable and left you feeling with a ‘woah’ moment. The breaks within the music for a cappella performance are strong and bold. I would greatly recommend this piece for any level of choirs.”

— Jaqlyn Ward, Twin Bridges Middle School

“Song of Peace connected with [my students] as a really accessible and singable piece… It was definitely a healthy challenge, but accessible enough – especially at the beginning of the year. It stretched the sopranos range-wise in a good way, gave my guys enough to dig into with intervallic work, and put the altos in a sweet spot to work on tone. It worked to grow everybody in the way they needed.”

— Reece Kingcade, Terrell High School

Lyrics

Are you broken
Or carrying a burden?
Tired, lonely, heavy laden?
Then for you, I sing:

“May comfort and peace wash over you;
May your spirit be renewed.
Close your eyes and take in the sun,
For healing is coming; it is on its way.”

Sickness, heartache
Depression and anxiety
Fear of what we cannot see
Through them all, hold on to me

As comfort and peace wash over you
May your spirit be renewed
Close your eyes and take in the sun
For healing is coming; it is on its way.

Searching, burning
For explanations unknown
But no matter what you are or not shown
Remember you’re never alone.

Why do things happen we can’t explain?
Must we endure all the tears and pain?
I have no answers, only a call
To be with you through your hardest days.

Soon all of our suffering will be done
But until that glorious day comes
Close your eyes and take in the sun
For healing is coming

And may you have an everlasting peace
For all your days.

About the Music

Song of Peace is exactly what its name suggests — a blessing of peace offered to everyone who hears and performs it. Written for an SAB voicing, it’s a good fit for choirs with fewer men, while still incorporating optional divisi for their part. The melody is straightforward and features moments of homophonic syncopation.

Behind the Music

2025 was a hard year for my family and friends for many different reasons. Through it all, we yearned for peace. During this time, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Reece Kingcade, choir director at Terrell High School, for a commission. Reece said he would like something expressive and beautiful for his students to sing. When I originally begun the music, it sounded like it would be a more “adventure-like” piece with a touch of elegance. But as I began to write more, I discovered the melodies that are now in the piece as it currently stands — and they gave me peace. These themes quickly overtook the writing process, and they evolved into a blessing for anyone yearning for peace like we were. My hope is that it brings a sense of peace that you’ve been needing in your life like it did for me.

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!