Burleigh (My Lord, What a Morning)

This lovely setting of Burleigh, an African American spiritual, by Chicago organist Richard Billingham, is in three sections.

I set the first solo section with some flutes on top of the accompanying strings and flutes. For part two where it says to add, I included more flutes and strings, and a 1/2' piccolo stop for a bit of Christmas color. I think it sounds like tiny bells, which made me think of dewy (or snowy) mornings. And the third part has a florid, highly ornamented melody (I used an 8' reed and 1' flute) over the accompaniment.