Chichester Psalms
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The Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for countertenor, solo quartet, choir and orchestra (3 trumpets in Bb, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion (5 players), 2 harps, and strings). A reduction written by the composer pared down the orchestral performance forces to organ, harp and percussion.
Bernstein stated explicitly in his writing that the part for countertenor may be sung by either an actual countertenor or a boy soprano, but never by a woman. This was to reinforce the liturgical meaning of the passage sung, perhaps to suggest that the 23rd Psalm, a "Psalm of David" from the Hebrew Bible, was to be heard as if sung by the boy David himself. The text was arranged by Bernstein from the psalms in the original Hebrew. Part 1 uses psalms 100 and 108, Part 2 uses 2 and 23 and Part 3 uses 131 and 133.
It was commissioned for the 1965 Southern Cathedrals' Festival at Chichester Cathedral by the cathedral's organist, John Birch, and the Dean, Walter Hussey. However, the world premiere took place in the Philharmonic Hall, New York in early 1965 with the composer conducting, followed by the performance in the Chichester Festival in July that year, conducted by John Birch.
The Chichester Psalms was Bernstein's first composition after his Third Symphony (Kaddish). They are his two most overtly Jewish works. While both works have a chorus singing texts in Hebrew, the Kaddish Symphony has been described as a work often at the edge of despair, while the Chichester Psalms is serene and affirmative.
The Psalms and the first movement in particular are noted among performers for their musical difficulty, with the opening section of the first movement often considered one of the hardest passages for choral tenors ever written, owing to the range of the piece and the consistent presence of the strange and difficult-to-maintain interval of a major 7th between the tenor and bass. The seventh interval figures prominently due to its numerological importance in the judeochristian tradition; also the first movement is written in the 7/4 meter.
A notable recording was made in 1986 conducted by Richard Hickox. With Bernstein's approval, the countertenor part was sung by Aled Jones, then a treble.
Contents |
[edit] The Piece
[edit] Introduction
| Urah hanevel v'chinor | awake, Psaltery and Harp! |
| Airah shachar | I will rouse the dawn! |
The introduction (presented on sheet music as part of movement one) begins gathering energy. Word painting is used in that the dissonant 7ths present in every chord sound like clanging bells, indicating that we are being told to awake in a deep and profound way.
[edit] First Movement
| Hariu l'Adonai kol ha'aretz | Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands |
| Iv du et Adonai b'simcha | Serve the Lord with gladness |
| Bou l'fanav bir'nanah | Come before his presence with singing |
| D'u ki Adonai hu elohim | Know that the Lord is God. |
| Hu asanu v'lo anahnu | It is he that has made us |
| Amo v'tson mar'ito | We are his people. |
| Bou sh'arav b'todah | Come unto his gates with thanksgiving |
| Hatseirotav bit'hilah | and into his court with praise |
| Hodu lo baruch schmo | be thankful for him and bless him |
| Kitov Adonai, l'olam hasdo | the lord is good, his mercy everlasting |
| V'ador vador emunato | and his truth endures forever. |
The first movement is in a joyous 7/4 meter, sung in a festive fashion, as is implored in the first verse of the psalm. The last word, "emunato", recalls the 7th interval presented as the main theme in the introduction.
[edit] Second Movement
| "David" and Women | |
| Adonai roi, lo ehsar. | The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. |
| Bin'ot deshe yarbitseini, | He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, |
| Al mei m'nuhot y'nahaleini, | He leadeth me beside the still waters, |
| Naf'shi y'shovev, | He restoreth my soul, |
| Yan'heini b'ma'aglei tsedek, | He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, |
| L'ma'an sh'mo. | For His name's sake. |
| (Men) | |
| Lamah rag'shu goyim | Why do the nations rage, |
| Ul'umim yeh'gu rik? | And the people imagine a vain thing |
| Yit'yats'vu malchei erets, | The kings of the earth set themselves, |
| V'roznim nos'du yahad | And the rulers take counsel together |
| Al Adonai v'al m'shiho. | Against the Lord and against His anointed. |
| N'natkah et mos'roteimo, | Saying, let us break their bonds asunder, |
| Yoshev bashamayim | He that sitteth in the heavens |
| Yis'hak, Adonai | Shall laugh, and the Lord |
| Yil'ag lamo! | Shall have them in derision! |
| (women) | |
| Gam ki eilech | Yea, though I walk |
| B'gei tsalmavet, | Through the valley of the shadow of death, |
| Lo ira ra, | I will fear no evil, |
| Ki Atah imadi. | For Thou art with me. |
| Shiv't'cha umishan'techa | Thy rod and Thy staff |
| Hemah y'nahamuni. | They comfort me. |
| "David" | |
| Ta'aroch l'fanai shulchan | Thou preparest a table before me |
| Neged tsor'rai | In the presence of mine enemies, |
| Dishanta vashemen roshi | Thou annointest my head with oil, |
| Cosi r'vayah. | My cup runneth over. |
| Ach tov vahesed | Surely goodness and mercy |
| Yird'funi kol y'mei hayai | Shall follow me all the days of my life, |
| V'shav'ti b'veit Adonai | And I will dwell in the house of the Lord |
| L'orech yamim. | Forever. |
The second movement begins with the psalm of David set in a conventional meter (4/4) with a tranquil melody, sung by the boy soprano (or countertenor), and repeated by the women's voices in the chorus. This is abruptly interrupted by the orchestra and the low, rumbling sounds (again word painting) of the men's voices singing psalm 2 (also notably featured in Handel's Messiah). This is gradually overpowered by the women's voices (and then, David) serenely reaffirming the second portion of psalm 23. However, the last measures of the movement contain notes which recall the interrupting section, symbolizing mankind's unending struggle with conflict and faith.
Interestingly, the boy's theme was adapted from a musical that Bernstein never completed, The Skin of Our Teeth (based on the play by Thornton Wilder). The men's theme was adapted from material that was cut out of West Side Story.
[edit] Third Movement
| Adonai, Adonai, | Lord, Lord, |
| Lo gavah libi, | My heart is not haughty, |
| V'lo ramu einai, | Nor mine eyes lofty, |
| V'lo hilachti | Neither do I exercise myself |
| Big'dolot uv'niflaot | In great matters or in things |
| Mimeni. | Too wonderful for me to understand. |
| Im lo shiviti | Surely I have calmed |
| V'domam'ti, | And quieted myself, |
| Naf'shi k'gamul alei imo, | As a child that is weaned of his mother, |
| Kagamul alai naf'shi. | My soul is even as a weaned child. |
| Yahel Yis'rael el Adonai | Let Israel hope in the Lord |
| Me'atah v'ad olam. | From henceforth and forever. |
The third movement begins with a conflicted and busy instrumental prelude which recapitulates the chords and melody from the introduction; then suddenly it breaks into the gentle chorale set in a rolling 10/4 (1+ 2++, 3+ 4++) meter which recalls desert palms swaying in the breeze.
[edit] Finale
| Hineh mah tov, | Behold how good, |
| Umah nayim, | And how pleasant it is, |
| Shevet ahim | For brethren to dwell |
| Gam yahad. | Together in unity. |
The finale comes in from the third movement without interruption. The principal motives from the introduction return here to unify the work and create a sense of returning to the beginning, but here the motives are sung pianississimo, and greatly extended in length. Particularly luminous harmonies eventually give way to a unison note on the last syllable of the text, a note on which the choir then sings the amen, while the trumpet plays the opening motive one last time and the orchestra, too, ends on a unison G, with a tiny hint of Picardy third.
[edit] Media
Webcast from the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge in the context of a service of evensong. This recording uses a treble soloist for the second movement.
