The Senior Choir at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will premiere a new anthem by Damariscotta composer Richard Francis on Sunday, April 21 at 11 a.m. The new anthem, "He is Risen," was commissioned by an anonymous benefactor. About "He is Risen," Richard said, "In this new anthem I have tried to portray the emotional impact of one of the most remarkable moments in human history. The combination of fear, violence, oppression, cruelty, and ultimately victory and joy, have always inspired me musically. In this music I hope you will hear all of those conflicting emotions and sense the wonder and amazement I feel when I read a hymn such as this."

In addition to his new anthem, Richard Francis will also sing several of his newly-composed canticle settings at St. Andrew's Church for weekday Holy Week Evening Prayer services at 5 p.m. on April 18 and 19.

Francis has composed several commissioned works for St. Andrew’s. Other commissions include the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the American Guild of Organists, among many others. Richard teaches cello privately and works as a composer, a singer, and a recording engineer. He sings in St. Andrew’s Senior Choir and St. Cecilia Chamber Choir, and lives with his daughter, Samantha, in a house he built himself in Damariscotta.

"He is Risen" features text by Cecil Francis Alexander, the Anglo-Irish hymnodist and poet. In addition to "He is Risen," Alexander wrote "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "There Is a Green Hill Far Away," and the Christmas carol "Once in Royal David's City."

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is at 11 Glidden St, Newcastle. For more information about St. Andrew's, please visit https://www.standrewsnewcastle.org or call 207-563-3533.