Chichester Psalms

Echoes of Anglican evensong, Broadway showtunes, and Judaic liturgical chant sound in Chichester Psalms. Bernstein’s three-movement work for boy treble or male alto, choir, and orchestra, an uplifting setting of three complete psalms and verses from three others in Hebrew, injects irresistible energy and fresh ideas into the traditions of Western sacred music. Its melodies appeal directly to the heart and convey the dramatic imagery of the psalmist’s words. The piece was commissioned by Walter Hussey, the art-loving Dean of England’s Chichester Cathedral, for the 1965 Southern Cathedrals Festival. Hussey’s desire to rejuvenate tradition in the contemporary arts found a natural ally in Bernstein, who was dismissive of modern music that alienated mainstream audiences. Chichester Psalms opens with a bell-like call to “Awake” and a syncopated choral setting of Psalm 100, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Its second movement begins with a flowing solo soprano to the words of Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” rudely interrupted by a militaristic setting for male voices of “Why do the nations rage.” The finale underlines the work’s central theme with its hushed closing hymn to unity.