Aaron’s Beard

I wrote this setting of Psalm 133 on May 4, 2012 after Lauren tried to find a song to lead at an Atlanta night singing that could serve as a dedication to Johnathon Kelso, who had just shaved his beard. After discovering that no song in The Sacred Harp or any other widely available shape-note songbook contained the word "beard" I promised to write a setting of any hymn text featuring the word if someone sent the text my way. Mark Godfrey soon sent along the text to Psalm 133.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
that ran down upon the beard,
even Aaron's beard:
that went down to the skirts of his garments;

as the dew of Hermon,
and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
for there the Lord commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore.