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Ki Er'eh Shamecha

Classical/Choral music • 1986 • Lyricist: old sacred text • Alternative Title: When I Look Up At Your Heavens
 
     
 

Ki Er'eh Shamecha

Ki Er'eh Shamecha: Ki Er'eh Shamecha by Bonia Shur

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Seller Bonia Shur
PDF, 926.3 Kb ID: SM-000239981 Upload date: 17 Feb 2016
Instrumentation
Mixed choir, Keyboard
Type of score
Full score
Translator
Bonia Shur
Publisher
Bonia Shur
Language
English, Hebrew
Commissioned by Temple Beth Am in honor of Selma Baumgard.

When I look up at Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars set in their place by You.

What are human beings that you should remember them?
And their offspring that You should think of them?

Yet,
You have made humans
but little lower than angels
and you have crowned them with glory and honor.

You have made them to have dominion
over the works of Your hands.

You have put all things under their feet.

O God, Our Sovereign,
How glorious is Your name
in all the earth.

NOTE TO THE CONDUCTOR:
The present setting to music of Psalm 8 reflects an attempt by the composer to portray various emotional and psychological associations with both the Hebrew and English texts. The Hebrew is very terse, brief and without embellishments. One has to visualize the scene that once inspired the Psalmist thousands of years ago. The English translation is soft, lyrical and meditative. There are 32 words in Hebrew and 90 in English.

As a composer, I have a special association with the language I am using for my work. I felt one way when I read the text in Hebrew and completely different in English. My reactions to both texts is expressed in the musical rendition. I imagined myself sitting at night in a quiet place and gazing at an unpolluted sky. The serenity of this setting in nature is expressed on page 1, m.1-15. This pastoral atmosphere is taken over by the choir, m.15-23. Pages 3-4 reflect the joy of seeing God's creation,.

Before working with the choir, check the metronome, dynamic and articualtion markings. I am very specific about them.

Pages 5-8, m.41-69, are an expression of gratitude to the Almighty for giving the joy of life in the universe.

Please check the metronome marking = 80 or 160. It should sound like a scherzo. Watch for the dynamic markings.

M.69 opens a new section that reflects the question mark that human beings ask themselves about their place in God's dominion. The musical interpretation of this segment is full of tension and fresh changing chordal combinations forming a relief to the ear from the diatonic material heard before. From m.81 the setting is portraying the responsibility for God's creation which is both sweet and terrifying. . From m.91 the same text in Hebrew (TAMSHILEIHU BEMAASEI YADECHA) is repeated by the men's voices in octaves expressing awe and fear for the fate of our planet human beings may destroy. The rendition of the Psalm in English is lyrical and brings back the listener to the pastoral setting.

Bonia Shur
Cincinnati, Fall 1986
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