Symphony Atlas

Chichester Psalms

196519 min

This guide follows Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms (1965) in three parts: Maestoso ma energico – Allegro molto (Psalm 108:2 / Psalm 100), Andante con moto, ma tranquillo – Allegro feroce (Psalm 23 / Psalm 2) and Prelude. Sostenuto molto – Peacefully flowing (Psalm 131 / Psalm 133:1) (ternary form).

Recording: Wiener Sängerknaben soloist (boy alto), Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein (1977)

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Follow all 17 sections as they play

  1. I ma – ( 108:2 / 100)
  2. II , ma – ( 23 / 2)
  3. IIIPrelude. – Peacefully flowing ( 131 / 133:1) · Ternary form
I ma – ( 108:2 / 100)0:07–3:37

The rings like clanging bells, with chords full of sevenths, as a call to awaken. The (A) sets 100 as a lively dance in 7/4, counted 2+2+3. Contrasting sections (B, B′ and C) follow, and the dance twice. Near the end, in the , strings, staccato brass and delicate percussion lead to a last choral . The closes on 'Ki tov Adonai', the seventh from the .

  1. A
II , ma – ( 23 / 2)3:45–9:18
IIIPrelude. – Peacefully flowing ( 131 / 133:1)Ternary form9:27–19:02

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

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Leonard BernsteinChoral worksModern periodTernary form

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