My Heart Is a River: Fantasy on a Hymn by Kjell Mørk Karlsen (2026) was written for organist James D. Hicks, whose Nordic Journey recital and recording project has included numerous old and new works by the great Norwegian composer Kjell Mørk Karlsen.

This work is a fantasy on the hymn “Og natta ror sin lette båt” (“As the night rows its light boat”), which appears in the hymnal of the Norwegian Church, Norsk salmebok 2013. The tune (1995) is by Karlsen, to a text (1990) by Åse-Marie Nesse (1934–2001).

The mood of the hymn’s beautiful Norwegian text is similar to Henry Francis Lyte’s famous English-language “Abide with me: fast falls the eventide.” The end of the day is used as a metaphor for the end of life, and an abiding trust in the eternal for when that time comes.

The opening sections and title of the organ fantasy come from the hymn’s second stanza: “A star shines in the night sky / and reflects itself in the sea. / But look, my heart is a river, / a stream that flows wild and lonely, / while deep currents break and never calm down. / Be near us when the day dies, / we pray to you, Lord, hear us!”

The final section of the piece reflects on the fourth stanza: “And when the evening comes for the last time, / when day and hour fade, / then I will fall asleep in a song / about the dawn over the mountains, / a place where no shadows fall, / a land where the light wins. / Be near me when life dies, / I pray you, Lord, hear me!”