Psalm of the Sky SSA
In the poem “Psalm of the Sky,” Rabbi Rachel Barenblat reimagines “The Lord is My Shepherd” (Psalm 23) in a contemporary context. Performers may highlight the many instances of text painting and create contrast between moments of gentleness, boldness, and carefree movement. The last verse of Psalm 23 is included in Hebrew as a coda in a similar style to many prayers sung in Jewish worship; this allusion to Barenblat’s textual inspiration is intended to express the enduring human need for comfort and hope despite changing modes of worship.
Psalm of the Sky was commissioned by the Creative Commissions Project at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, sponsored by the Harmony Fund, and it was premiered by Ensemble X at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. This work is ideal for moderate to advanced high school, university, and community choirs. It is also available for TBB (the original) and SAB (with parts indicated for any size tenor section).
| Voicing: | SA, SAA, SSA, SSAA |
| Language: | English, Hebrew |
| Descriptive Tags: | Comfort, Devotion, Jewish, Peace, Poetry, Prayer, PROJECT : ENCORE, Psalm, Reverence, Worship |
| Difficulty: | Medium, Intermediate, Advanced Student |
| Duration: | 5-10 Minutes |
| Instrumentation: | Piano, Violin |
$3.95
This title is available in print. For both options, there is a minimum required quantity of 8 copies for choral titles. Please support self-publishing composers by ordering the quantity according to the number of singers in the ensemble that will perform the work.
Print orders are printed on demand and shipped by our printing partner, and can be expected to be processed within a few days of the order. Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] to follow up.
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| SATB ⋅ SSATBB | 4'30" | English | This work was commissioned by the Jane Froman Singers of Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, under the direction of Nollie Moore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This work was commissioned by the Jane Froman Singers of Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, under the direction of Nollie Moore. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATB | 5' | English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SATB | 7' | English | A poignant set of modern-day madrigals is crafted from three exquisite poems by Christina Rossetti that pay homage to the moon. SSAA version also available » | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A poignant set of modern-day madrigals is crafted from three exquisite poems by Christina Rossetti that pay homage to the moon. SSAA version also available » | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATB | 1' 45" | English | A metrical presentation of the Gregorian chant antiphon harmonised with jazz-inspired chords. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A metrical presentation of the Gregorian chant antiphon harmonised with jazz-inspired chords. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATB | 4' | English | This beloved folk tune has been arranged with optional, muted trumpet (the timbre adds to the mood of the piece). The piano accompaniment expands the 4-part harmony of the choir to suggest more contemporary harmony with a few jazz chords. It’s not overdone, however; “Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger” is still a traditional, compelling portrait of a […] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This beloved folk tune has been arranged with optional, muted trumpet (the timbre adds to the mood of the piece). The piano accompaniment expands the 4-part harmony of the choir to suggest more contemporary harmony with a few jazz chords. It’s not overdone, however; “Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger” is still a traditional, compelling portrait of a […] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SA ⋅ Unison | 4'35" | English | Written for the CBSO Children’s Chorus, and first performed by them in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, this light-hearted piece describes a day-dreaming shepherd boy, who suddenly finds himself drawn into the Christmas story. It has also been performed by a youth chorus in Liverpool, accompanied by the Royal Liverpool […] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written for the CBSO Children’s Chorus, and first performed by them in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, this light-hearted piece describes a day-dreaming shepherd boy, who suddenly finds himself drawn into the Christmas story. It has also been performed by a youth chorus in Liverpool, accompanied by the Royal Liverpool […] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATB | 1' | English | Emily Dickinson’s short and quippy poem, “To make a prairie” has a great depth of meaning despite its brevity, in its portrayal of the power of imagination. This setting captures the broad sweep of the prairie landscape in its bright opening chords, and the dreamy state of imagnining in a shimmering but intensifying middle section, […] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emily Dickinson’s short and quippy poem, “To make a prairie” has a great depth of meaning despite its brevity, in its portrayal of the power of imagination. This setting captures the broad sweep of the prairie landscape in its bright opening chords, and the dreamy state of imagnining in a shimmering but intensifying middle section, […] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Most rounds in popular collections are either sober or light-hearted. Where are the truly chucklesome examples? They do exist, of course: one thinks of classics such as “Thy Jolly Red Nose” or “The Old Man from Calcutta”; even, perhaps, of the bawdy catches of Henry Purcell and John Blow. But they are rarely found between […] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATB | 3' 25" | English | This heartfelt folksong was written by Newfoundlander Jim Payne (b. 1955) in 1994, and appeared as the title song for the Album “Wave Over Wave: Old and New Songs of Atlantic Canada,” with Fergus O’Byrne (1996). The song was also very successfully recorded by the Newfoundland folk rock band Great Big Sea, which released it […] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This heartfelt folksong was written by Newfoundlander Jim Payne (b. 1955) in 1994, and appeared as the title song for the Album “Wave Over Wave: Old and New Songs of Atlantic Canada,” with Fergus O’Byrne (1996). The song was also very successfully recorded by the Newfoundland folk rock band Great Big Sea, which released it […] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||