Song Release: My Son – Duet by Sarah and Hagar
One of my favorite singing partners is the gifted Tasha Fischer.
We debuted this song publicly several years ago and I was impressed with how dialed-in the audience was to this never-before-heard song about a very, very old story. Afterward, the best compliment was given by a man who said, “Wow. Is all that really in the Bible? I can’t wait to go home and reread those chapters!”
The account of Sarah and Hagar is found in Genesis 15, 16, 17 and 21. It is a terrific story, and a great help in understanding much of the conflict in both ancient and modern times.
As the first wife of Abraham, Sarai (later renamed Sarah, by God) had certain expectations about what her child’s birthright would be, should she ever have children. However, as she passed childbearing age, Sarai, desperate for a child, gave her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to her husband, to be his wife, “that I may obtain children by her.”
Hagar did conceive, and as her son, Ishmael, was Abraham’s firstborn, she also had certain expectations about what her child was due.
I won’t tell the rest of the story – the song does a great job of it, and the rest of the story is in Genesis and has been referenced often over the past two thousand years.
I can feel the mother-love of each of these women and this song poured itself out as I sat at the piano to compose.
In the end, the family is divided.
Abrahams Farewell to Ishmael by George Segal, 1987. Photo by Oriol Tarridas
Artist: George Segal. 107 x 54 x 54 inches. Collection Perez Art Museum Miami, gift of The George and Helen Segal Foundation, Inc. (I especially liked the multiple perspectives of this sculpture offered here: )
Abraham, who was promised in Genesis 17:4 to be the “Father of Nations”, had that promise fulfilled.
Abraham and Isaac by William Whitaker
Lineage from Abraham to Jesus by Biblestudy-org
Jean Charles Cazin, Hagar and Ishmael, 1880
I feel compassion for each woman. I feel it for Abraham, and I certainly feel it for the boys, Ishmael and Isaac.
This song’s cover photo credit goes to Rebecca Marsh. Models are our vocalist, Tasha Fischer, and my dear friend and mentor (musical and otherwise), June Blinn.