Chichester Psalms
Choral work by Leonard Bernstein for countertenor, choir and orchestra. (The original orchestral scoring required only organ, harp and percussion.) The text was arranged by Bernstein from the psalms in the original Hebrew. Part 1 uses psalms 100 and 108, part 2 uses 2 and 23 and part 3 uses 131 and 133. It was commissioned for the 1965 Southern Cathedrals' Festival at Chichester Cathedral by the cathedral's organist, John Birch, and the Dean, Walter Hussey. However, the world premiere took place in the Philharmonic Hall, New York in early 1965 with the composer conducting, followed by the performance in the Chichester Festival in July that year, conducted by John Birch. The Chichester Psalms was Bernstein's first composition after his Third Symphony (Kaddish). They are his two most overtly Jewish works. While both works have a chorus singing texts in Hebrew, the Kaddish Symphony has been described as a work often at the edge of despair, while the Chichester Psalms is serene and affirmative. A notable recording was made in 1986 conducted by Richard Hickox. With Bernstein's approval, the countertenor part was sung by Aled Jones, then a boy treble.
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