Voices of Connection: 09/22 Bloch Sacred Service Pt. I
Whereas countless great composers of Western Music have written settings of the Christian Mass, musical settings of the Jewish liturgy by composers of stature are few and far between. Bloch’s setting of the Reformed Saturday Morning Liturgy, his Sacred Service, is without peer, and, further, is widely regarded as one of the greatest choral masterpieces of the early 20th century. I was fortunate enough to study the work with Bloch’s daughter, Suzanne, who gave me her father’s program notes of his piece which I share with you for these next five days.
– Dennis Keene
“Part I The short orchestral prelude, Meditation, sets forth the initial (myxolydian - modal) motive, which permeates the whole work, and two other melodic forms too, which recur here and there. "How goodly are They Tents" is a kind of invocation, in the desert perhaps, depicting the Temple of God in “Nature”. More liturgical is "Sing His Praise", that follows.
The short interlude which leads to "Oh hear, Israel", is more "cosmic”, as if representing the hidden of the Universe. "Oh, hear Israel" is the great profession of the Jewish faith -the essential affirmation of unity.
Then comes "And thou shalt love Him", characterizing the union of religion and everyday life, suggesting, in a kind sublimation, the simplicity, grandeur and sacredness of all things, and the idea of a religion, not of words, but of acts.
"Who is like Thee " is the crowd's response, and it expresses its exultation in the section "And the Lord shall reign". The tragic accents of "Rock of Israel" succeed this short-lived joy, however, to end Part One on a mournful note expressive of the sufferings of humanity.” – Ernest Bloch
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ERNEST BLOCH Avodath Hakodesh - Sacred Service (Part I)
Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Cantor: Zachary Nelson, Baritone
Sarah Griffiths, Soprano
Helen Karloski, Mezzo-soprano
Heather Petrie, Contralto
Brandon Lloyd Hynum, Tenor
Jason Eck, Bass-baritone
Andrew Henderson, Organ
from the concert Bloch Sacred Service & Bernstein Chichester Psalms
May 17, 2018, The Church of the Ascension, New York, NY
The singers in this performance are represented by
the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.