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Bernstein's Chichester Psalms are most famous amongst choral
singers for having been set in their original Hebrew! Notwithstanding the
considerable challenge of singing in such an unfamiliar language, the Psalms are
wonderful to perform. Bernstein had recently finished writing 'West
Side Story', and he freely admitted to incorporating musical ideas originally
intended for the musical into the Psalms.
In setting texts drawn from the Book of Psalms, Bernstein used
both joyful words and darker ones. The range of moods covered in this relatively
short work is breathtaking; the percussive exuberance of the first movement is
followed by an achingly beautiful setting of 'The Lord is my Shepherd' directly
against the violent 'Why do the Nations Rage so furiously together?' The
closing of the piece returns to the melody of the opening with the words 'How
wonderful it is when brethren dwell together in unity'
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Mahler began work on his 2nd symphony in 1888, with a monumental first
movement reflecting on the death of a hero, but for a long time he was at a loss
how to continue. It wasn't until 1894 that he heard Klopstock's Resurrection
ode, which made such an impression on him that he resolved to make it the basis
for his symphony's finale. So it is that the choir remain silent for
almost an hour before one of the most extraordinary choral endings in the
repertoire.
Mahler has already used a much extended orchestra during the first three
movements of the symphony, with extra horns, trumpets and woodwind, as well as a
vast array of percussion. In the 4th movement a solo Alto voice is heard, and
the last movement begins as if nothing could surpass the sound of a full
orchestra. Later the music fades away leaving just a few solo instruments
echoing across the hall and the choir begin unaccompanied, as quietly as
possible. Their musical phrases rise and fall, trying to escape upwards,
and the symphony ends with full choir and orchestra in a blaze of sound.
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