Worship the King was composed in 2021 for Derek Lance and the New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army. It is based on the hymn tune “Hanover”, composed by William Croft in 1708, the first verse of which is as follows:

O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Philip Harper’s concert piece attempts to tap into the positivity of this message and uses driving cross-rhythm syncopations alongside melodies derived from the hymn tune. After a passage which is ambiguous in tonal direction there is a brief buildup of energy before finally the hymn is heard in all its glory at the conclusion.