A-DONAY RO-I (23rd Psalm)
by Michael Reid Winikoff
SATB or Two-Part Choir (Optional Soli), with
Piano
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SATB, optional piano Listen View Listen Only (faster load) -- 2-Part (SA or TB duet, choir or both), optional piano Listen/View Listen Only |
A-donay Ro-i is, of course, the 23rd Psalm, which is found in the Yizkor (Memorial) Service recited on Yom Kippur, Sh'mini Atzeret, the last day of Passover, and the last day of Shavuot.
This setting of the Twenty-Third Psalm features a quiet and tranquil
accompaniment (optional) designed to depict the "quiet waters" mentioned
in the text, and the sedate, introspective music aims to plumb the
depths of the soul. The choral lines are constructed to avoid, to
the degree possible, wide or difficult intervals for the singer, and
parts often begin in unison before diverging in their various
directions. In the SATB version, the central section is set
largely a cappella, not only to lend special solemnity to its
text, but to set up a powerful effect when the accompaniment resumes in
full.
Effective execution of this work calls for a restrained emotional
intensity, along with a sense of legato and shaping of line, and of the
overall formal context of the piece. At the recapitulation of the
second main theme (measure 52), the melodic line switches from soprano
to tenor, and care should be taken to bring this out slightly.
