Chichester Psalms

The Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for countertenor, 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.

Related Topics:
Leonard Bernstein - Countertenor

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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 Old Testament, 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.

Related Topics:
23rd Psalm - Old Testament - David - Psalms - Hebrew

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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.

Related Topics:
1965 - Chichester Cathedral - Walter Hussey - Philharmonic Hall - New York - July

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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.

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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 tenor 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.

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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 boy treble.

Related Topics:
1986 - Richard Hickox - Aled Jones - Boy treble

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