Wherewith shall I come?

John Michael Murray was one of my chess pupils. At the age of 15 he died in an accident at his home. He was a member of a very special family, as testified by this obituary in The Times Educational Supplement (Scotland).

One of the readings at his funeral was the much‐loved text of Micah 6:6–8. In the days after the funeral I composed a short anthem in his memory on the words of that reading. It was graciously received by his family.

This is a synthesised rendering of the anthem.

Wherewith (shall I come) before the Lord?

Wherewith (shall I come) before the Lord,

And bow myself before the high God?

(Repeat)

Shall I come before him…

(Bass) …with burnt offerings? (Other parts) …with calves of a year old?

Will the Lord be pleasèd (with thousands of rams, or) with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my first‐born for my transgression,

The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed (thee, O man,) what is good;

And what doth the Lord require of thee,

But to do justly,

And to love mercy,

And to walk humbly with thy God?

Here is the printed score.

Wherewith shall I come?

Introduction

Audio

Words

Printed score