Bernstein Chichester Psalms Vocal Score
Vocal scores for Bernstein's Chichester Psalms
Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for boy treble or countertenor, solo quartet, choir and orchestra (3 trumpets in B♭, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion [7-8 players], 2 harps, and strings).
The most popular vocal score for is shown below.
Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for boy treble or countertenor, solo quartet, choir and orchestra (3 trumpets in B♭, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion [7-8 players], 2 harps, and strings). A reduction written by the composer pared down the orchestral performance forces to organ, one harp, and percussion. Bernstein stated explicitly in his writing that the part for countertenor may be sung by either a 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 Psalms 2 and 23 and Part 3 uses Psalms 131 and 133.
| Psalm 108, verse 2 | |
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Urah, hanevel, v'chinor! A-irah shachar! |
Awake, psaltery and harp: I will rouse the dawn! |
| Psalm 100 | |
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Hariu l'Adonai kol ha-arets. Iv'du et Adonai b'simcha. Bo-u l'fanav bir'nanah. D'u ki Adonai Hu Elohim. Hu asanu, v'lo anachnu. Amo v'tson mar'ito. Bo-u sh'arav b'todah, Chatseirotav bit'hilah, Hodu lo, bar'chu sh'mo. Ki tov Adonai, l'alom chas'do, V'ad dor vador emunato. |
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Come unto His gates with thanksgiving, And into His court with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. The Lord is good, His mercy everlasting And His truth endureth to all generations. |
| Psalm 23 | |
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Adonai ro-i, lo echsar. Bin'ot deshe yarbitseini, Al mei m'nuchot y'nachaleini, Naf'shi y'shovev, Yan'cheini b'ma'aglei tsedek, L'ma'an sh'mo. Gam ki eilech B'gei tsalmavet, Lo ira ra, Ki Atah imadi. Shiv't'cha umishan'techa Hemah y'nachamuni. Ta'aroch l'fanai shulchan, Neged tsor'rai Dishanta vashemen roshi Cosi r'vayah. Ach tov vachesed Yird'funi kol y'mei chayai, V'shav'ti b'veit Adonai L'orech yamim. |
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff They comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of my enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy Shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. |
| Psalm 2, verses 1-4 | |
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Lamah rag'shu goyim Ul'umim yeh'gu rik? Yit'yats'vu malchei erets, V'roznim nos'du yachad Al Adonai v'al m'shicho. N'natkah et mos'roteimo, V'nashlichah mimenu avoteimo. Yoshev bashamayim Yis'chak, Adonai Yil'ag lamo! |
Why do the nations rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His anointed. Saying, let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens Shall laugh, and the Lord Shall have them in derision! |
| Psalm 131 | |
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Adonai, Adonai, Lo gavah libi, V'lo ramu einai, V'lo hilachti Big'dolot uv'niflaot Mimeni. Im lo shiviti V'domam'ti, Naf'shi k'gamul alei imo, Kagamul alai naf'shi. Yachel Yis'rael el Adonai Me'atah v'ad olam. |
Lord, Lord, My heart is not haughty, Nor mine eyes lofty, Neither do I exercise myself In great matters or in things Too wonderful for me to understand. Surely I have calmed And quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother, My soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord From henceforth and forever. |
| Psalm 133, verse 1 | |
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Hineh mah tov, Umah nayim, Shevet achim Gam yachad. |
Behold how good, And how pleasant it is, For brethren to dwell Together in unity. |
For further information of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms please click here to visit the Wikipedia website
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