DAVID AVSHALOMOV the Lord! (Psalm 150) Mixed Chorus (SATB, divisi) with Organ (ot. susended cymbal) Winner, Mountainside Master Chorale Comosition Contest 2016 (2 nd Place) 2009 Raven Music
Commissioned by the choir o Westwood United Methodist Church o Los Angeles to recognize and honor Director o Music Ministries Dr. Gina Shaw on the occasion o her retirement. Dedicated to the Glory o God (Soli Deo Gloria). Duration: 4:45 PERFORMANCE NOTES: There are two key irst stes to mastering this iece vocally. First the choir needs to become comortable with the two basic ways o eeling a lively 5/8 meter: 3+2 ( the Lord and 2_3 ( Him ), beaten and elt one-to-the-bar, over a low o continuous eighth notes (in the organ). The syllable lacement in the iece is designed to suort these two rhythmic building blocks naturally. Second, they need to get in their ears a modiied Lydian mode with a lowered 7 th degree. (On C this is C D E F# G A Bb.) The whole-tone tetrachord and the rominent tritone rom 1 to 4 govern much o the melodic material, in various keys but not all the harmonies. In series o reeated the Lord bars, the word Lord should not be clied (not staccato), the series should make a long hrase. Excet or the very irst hrase o the iece, the inal d in Lord should not be oed, just gently touched. It is reerable that the choir not rehearse this iece with iano; even a ortable synth/organ is reerable to get the sound o the accomaniment in their ear. Divisi: Women sometimes divide, either normally (2-art Altos and/or 2-art Soranos), or in 3 arts (ewer Second Soranos and ewer First Altos combined on the middle art, or balance with the to and bottom). These dierences are clearly marked. Only Basses divide in the men. Organ registration: I you do not have Tromette en Chamade, use as loud a trumet/brass sto as you have. It must have éclat. And the mixture or the organ solo must be thick and enetrating, with vibrato/tremulant or comarable richness. There is an otional cut in the organ solo rom 175 to 207 which can be used to shorten the iece by about hal a minute. The susended cymbal art is otional but it is worth including i you can do it. (There are vocal eect cues in the choral arts to cover it.) MUSIC NOTE BY THE COMPOSER This setting o Psalm 150, the culminating Psalm in the Old Testament, draws its energy rom the root meaning o the word hallelujah used regularly in the Psalms. It is the Hebrew word used or requesting a congregation to join in raise. The best translation o hallelujah is " Yah, you eole", usually worded in English versions as " ye the LORD" or " the LORD" (the rerain reeated in this English-only setting). However, hallelujah means more, as the word hallel in Hebrew means a joyous raise, to boast o God, or to act madly or oolishly. Hence, the urose o Psalm 150 as I see it, and o my setting, is or an already ecstatic chorus to incite the congregation to mad, wild raising o the Lord. This eect is enhanced by the almost continuous use o quick asymmetrical 5/8 meter The iece also has a rominent organ art with an extended Bulgarian Jazz solo in the middle.
Psalm 150 SOPRANO ALTO TENOR BASS Sus.Cymbal ORGAN 6 Ped. q = 60 PRAISE THE LORD! q. + q = 64 DAVID AVSHALOMOV 32' the the LORD! LORD! the LORD! the LORD! (always a gently touched inal "d" on Lord, throughout; never oed) rhythmic, ecstatic the Lord! rhythmic, ecstatic the Lord! semre simile rhythmic, ecstatic rhythmic, ecstatic thelord! thelord! the Lord! thelord! (small notes or rehearsal only) 1 2009 Raven Music
2 13 the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! (The quarter note on "Lord" is non-staccato. Carry over the reetitions, throughout.) (semre ritmico, non sostenuto) the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! m the Lord! the Lord! m the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! thelord! the Lord! the Lord! m the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! m the Lord! the Lord! 19
(sostenuto) (semre ritmico) m (semre ritmico) m 25 31 the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! A the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! Alto 1 (sostenuto) God God the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! m 3
4 38 B 46 in his Sanc - tu - a-ry in his Sanc - tu - a-ry 3 arts women God in his Sanc-tu- (all Altos) 3 arts women God in (sostenuto) his Sanc-tu- God in his Sanc-tu- (sostenuto) thelord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! God in his Sanc-tu- m (small notes or rehearsal only) a- ry - a- ry Him! Him! Him! Him! Him! Him! a- ry Him! Him! Him! a- ry Him! Him! Him! thelord!thelord!thelord!thelord! thelord!
52 59 (sostenuto) (sostenuto) Him in the Fir - ma- ment Him in the Fir - ma-ment Him in the Fir - ma ment Him in the Fir - ma ment (sostenuto) Him in the Fir - ma ment (ritmico) (ritmico) 3 art women Himin the Fir-ma-mentoHis Pow - er (ritmico) 3 art women Himin the Fir-ma-mentoHis Pow - (ritmico) Himin the Fir-ma-mento His Pow - er Him Himin the Fir-ma-mento His Pow - er Him er Cast bells or Chimes 5
6 65 or His might y C 71 (ritmico) His might - ty His might - ty - acts, His might - ty or His might - y acts, His might - y acts, acts, acts. acts, Him! Him! Him! Him ac (ritmico) Him! Him! Him! Him ac (ritmico) Him! Him! Him! Him ac (ritmico) Him! Him! Him! Him ac- Organ
77 83 cord-ing to His ex- cel-lent great-ness, orhis ex-cel-lent great-ness. Him! cord-ing to His ex- cel-lent great-ness, or His ex-cel-lent great-ness. Him! cord-ing to His ex- cel-lent great-ness, or His ex-cel-lent great-ness. Him! cord-ing to His ex- cel-lent great-ness, or His ex-cel-lent great-ness. Him! the Lord! Him! the Lord! Him! the Lord! (Gb = F#) the Lord! (Cb = B) (Gb = F#) thelord! Him! thelord! (Gb = F#) the Lord! Him! the Lord! Himwiththe sound o the Himwiththe sound o the Himwiththe sound o the Himwiththe sound o the 7
8 89 D 96 trum-et the trumet, the trum-et, the trumet the trum et, the trum-et the trumet, the trum-et, the trumet the trum et, the trum-et the trumet, the trum-et, the trumet the trum et, the trum-et the trumet, the trum-et, the trumet the trum et, the trum-et, the trum- et, the trum-et, the TRUM- PET! trum-et, the trum- et, the trum-et, the TRUM- PET! trum-et, the trum- et, the trum-et, the TRUM- PET! trum-et, the trum- et, the trum-et, the TRUM- PET! Tromette (en chamade)
101 Him the Lord! 9 108 E! Him the Lord! the Lord! Him Him the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! Organ Har (metallohone) L. V. (hold down keys)
10 114 etc. sost. sost. F 122 d d d dmm d d d dmm dmm (ritmico) d dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm L. V. (hold down keys) (ritmico) d Him with the harand the lyre (ritmico) dmm d dmm dmm d d dmm dmm dmm d dmm etc. Him with the har and the lyre sost. Him with Him with the har and the lyre the har and the lyre dmm (ritmico) m dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm him withthe dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm dmm sost.
O R 11 129 135 tim-breland the dance, tmm (Tenor ossia) brll, the tmm brll, m the tmm- brll, the tim-i-dm-i-dm-i -dm-brll, m Organ the tmm-brll, the tmm-brll, thetmmbrll, tmmbrll,the tmm - m m Him with danc Him with danc - - ing, ing, brll, tmm brll, raise Him with the dance, the dance. Him with raise Him with the dance, the dance. Him with tmm - brll, the tim-i-dm-i-dm-i-dm-brll, tmm - brll, the tim-i-dm-i-dm-i-dm-brll, tmm brll, - the tmm-brll, the tmm - brll, tmm brll, tmm- brll, the tmm - brll, tmm brll, tmm- brll, the
12 140 G (sost.) 145 danc danc - - ing, ing, raise Himwiththedance, O raise Him with danc - ing, with raise Him withthedance, O raise Him with danc - ing, with tim i-dm-i-dm-i-dm-brll, tmm - brll, the tim i-dm-i-dm-i-dm-brll, tmm- brll, the tim i-dm-i-dm-i dm- tmm - brll, brll, tmm brll, tmm- brll, the tmm brll, tmm brll, tmm- brll, the tmm brll, tmm brll, danc - ing, with danc - ing, Him with stringed in-stru-ments (sost.) danc - ing, danc - ing, Him with stringed in-stru-ments (sost.) tmm - brll, the tmm - brll (sost.) tmm-brll, the tmm - brll Him Him with stringed in-stru-ments with stringed in-stru-ments 8' Flute Harmonique Strings Strings
152 m m m m 158 H m m Him with stringed in -stru- ments Him with stringed in -stru- ments Him with stringed in -stru- ments Him with stringed in -stru- ments 8' Flute Harmonique Strings m in-stru-mentsand or-gan! in-stru-mentsand or-gan! - and or-gan! in-stru ments in-stru-mentsand or-gan! Full (ritmico) (ritmico) (ritmico) (ritmico) m m Himwith stringed Himwith stringed m m Strings m Himwith stringed Himwith stringed 13
14 165 179 ot. cut 170I m 174Cornet
185 190 8 6 196 201 15
206 J 16 (ot. a ew continue) K 212 (ALL continue ast cym. ring dim.) (otional cue cymbal, no voice) (ot. a ew eole continue cymbal ring dim., any section) Him on the cym - bals (tshh tshhh) Him onthe loud cym -bals (tshh tshhh (otional cue cymbal, no voice) Him on the cym - bals (tshh tshhh) Him on the loud cym - bals (tshh tshhh (otional cue cymbal, no voice) Him on the cym - bals Him on the cym - bals Susended Cymbal wood snare stick shoulder (tshh tshhh) Him on the loud cym - bals (otional cue cymbal, no voice) (tshh tshhh (tshh tshhh) Him on the loud cym - bals (tshh tshhh on dome on dome m Organ Zimbelstern ON tshhh tshhh tshh) Himon the high-sound-ing cym- bals! (tshh tshhh) tshh) Himon the high-sound-ing cym- bals! (tshh tshhh) (ALL continue ast cym. ring dim.) (ALL continue ast cym. ring dim.) tshhh tshh) Himon the high-sound-ing cym- bals! (tshh tshhh) tshhh tshh) Him onthe high-sound-ing cym- bals! (tshh tshhh) at edge stick, butt molto legato (hold keys down) Zimbelstern OFF (ALL continue ast cym. ring dim.)
(sost.) Let ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord 218 222 etc. etc. (sost.) Let ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord 17
18 226 230 (sost.) Let ev' - ry Let ev' - ry Let ev' - ry (sost.) Let ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord thing that hath breath raise the Lord thing that hath breath raise the Lord thing that hath breath raise the Lord
234 238 (quarter note on "Lord" non-staccato. Carry over reetitions) 19 (semre ritmico, non sostenuto) the Lord! the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord! the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord! the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord! the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!the Lord!
20 245 252 L (sost.) Let ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord! (sost.) m Let m ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord! (sost.) Let ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Let ev' ry (sost.) Let m - thing that hath breath raise the Lord! ev' - ry thing that hath breath raise the Lord! raise the Lord! m m (ritmico) m Let ev' Let ev' (ritmico) - ry thing - ry thing Let ev' m (ritmico) - ry thing Let ev' m Let ev' m (ritmico) Let ev' - ry thing Let ev' - - - ry ry ry Let ev' - ry
265 258 thing that thing that thingthat thing that Let ev' - ry thingthat hath Let ev' - ry thing that hath Let ev' - ry thingthat hath Let ev' - ry thingthat hath M breath breath raise Him! raise Him! raise Him! raise Him! breath raise Him! raise Him! breath raise Him! raise Him! raise the Lord raise Him! Him! the Lord! Him! Him! raise the Lord raise Him! Him! the Lord! Him! Him! raise the Lord raise Him! Him! the Lord! Him! Him! raise the Lord raise Him! Him! the Lord! Him! Him! 21
22 271 N 277 the Lord! Him! the Lord! Him! (ritmico, long hrases) the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! (ritmico, long hrases) the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! (ritmico, long hrases) the Lord! Him! the Lord! the Lord! (ritmico, long hrases) the Lord! Him! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord!
283 289 the Lord! the Lord! (Bb) the Lord! Stesso temo, in One (Ab) O the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! do not orce the voice do not orce the voice do not orce the voice do not orce the voice (or rehearsal only) the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the Lord! the the Lord, Lord, Semre in temo 3 arts women the 3 arts women the the Lord, the the Lord, the 23
24 298 Semre in temo divisi Lord! the Lord! Lord! divisi the NO FERMATA Lord! the Lord! Lord! Lord! the Lord! Susended Cymbal hard yarn mallets m molto L.V.
Songs o Innocence and o Exerience, A Caella Settings TITLE-- Level Dur. Brie Ot. also Tye Alhabetical * Div., Soli solo Quar tet Ah! Sun-Flower M 2:10 OK Air Wistul, oignant The Angel II 3:00 SSA, women only The Blossom III 1:00 Character Energy/ seed slow, lim, sot Toic Death, time, release Melodrama Mysterious slow Age, womanhood * Playul Madrigal The Chimney Sweeer I I 4:00 SSAATTBB middle Melodrama Ironic, ecstatic The Chimney Sweeer II The Clod & the III 2:00 OK Madrigal Ironic. Pebble Formal A Cradle Song III 3:15 OK Lullaby Sweet with a twist Fun, light ast, light, Nature rhythmic slow ast slow Child labor II 2:00 Melodrama Bitter moderate Child labor moderate Love's illusions slow, sot, steady Baby innocence, mother worry The Divine Image I III 2:00 OK Prayer Reverent moderate Tolerance A Divine Image II 1:30 Ahorism Bitter, ironic slow, Darkness o the II solid, ull soul A Dream (the lost ant) M 2:00 BB end Melodrama Play sooky moving, Lost ant rhythmic Earth's Answer III 2:30 Plaint Dark slow, strong Forbidden love The Ecchoing Green The Fly III 1:20 Freedom/Uhuru The Garden o Love Hear the Voice o the Bard Holy Thursday I Holy Thursday II The Human Abstract Inant Joy II 2:30 Carol, glee Exuberant high, rhythmic I 4:15 ot. Bar. solo * Playul Madrigal Airmation Witty Proud, Arican lively, rhythmic high, strong, rhythmic Children's lay, slee Fly or Man? Divine soul o a slave child II 2:30 OK Moral Madrigal bitter, oised intense Forbidden love III 2:45 Prohecy Hortatory strong Mystery, end o night III 2:00 Hymn Hoeul steady Exloitation o children III 3:15 Sermon Tragic slow Poverty I 3:30 M 2:00 light Sor. Solo OK Moral Madrigal Bitter, shar Air/rocking Sweet song slow Inant Sorrow III 2:15 Blues moan Soulul slow, heavy The Lamb M 2:20 OK Prayer Sweetest gentle, sot Laughing Song I 3:40 Playul Madrigal The Lilly III 1:30 * Nature Madrigal Hilarious lively, rhythmic, ull Esthetic Selishness moderate Innocence, rhythmic Pains o birth Lamb and Christ Ot. Secial FX, Stage Business eyes shutting, end Bell tones eye movement, end Chant BG. Claing, rhythmic movement moan, groan Laughter and youth Laughter, Hilarity breakdown near end slow, sot Lilly vs. rose
The Little Boy Lost/Found II 3:30 Melodrama Worried moving, Boy lost in the rhythmic marsh A Little Boy Lost [II] I 4:00 Sermon Righteous moderate Boy burned at the stake A Little Girl II 3:00 OK Madrigal/ Light, then lively, Forbidden young Lost (Ona) melodrama heavy then slow love The Little Girl II 4:00 Story Madrigal Narrative, moderate Lost girl, symbolic Lost/Found varied nature (Lyca) The Little II 1:45 Glee Highsirited lively, Need or ale in Vagabond rhythmic church London III 2:00 Sermon Gloomy slow Degradation in the city Motto to the II 2:15 Conundrum Ironic lively, The turning o Songs o I&E rhythmic human nature Night III 3:00 Prayer Sweet moderate Angels while we slee Nurse's Song I II 2:45 SSAATT-B end Vignette Innocent moderate Children on the Green Nurse s song II III 1:30 Vignette Bitter moderate Mortality On Another's III 1:30 OK Hymn Sweet moderate Comassion Sorrow Piing down III 2:00 SSAATTBB Playul Cheery lively, The Poet's the Valleys end Madrigal rhythmic insiration Wild A Poison Tree I 3:45 OK Moral Madrigal Bitter slow, Revenge intense My Pretty Rose II 1:45 Madrigal Ironic moderate Surned love Tree *, gentle The School Boy II 3:30 OK Madrigal Ironic lively, Summer school rhythmic The Sheherd M 1:30 Prayer Sweet rocking, gentle The Sick Rose II 1:45 Sring III 1:30 * Madrigal Bittersweet slow Love/death * Playul Madrigal Charming lively, rhythmic Echo divisi ending solo whistle intro Guarding the lock solo whistle intro and end Children in sring To Tirzah III 2:15 Chorale Bitter steady Misogyny Tyger Tyger Burning Bright II 2:10 Paean Shar lively, rhythmic Fearsome nature Eye movement end The Voice o the Ancient Bard I 2:00 OK Sermon Hortatory moderate Folly LEVEL RANKINGS: I. Proessional, Advanced University or Collegiate (NOTE: All, naturally, are suitable or ro and advanced grous.) II. Uer Division High School (chamber/madrigal, all-city, all-state honor), and Advanced Community or above III. General High School, Community College, and general Community or above M. Level III but ALSO suitable or Advanced Middle School (chamber/madrigal, honor): based on suitable ranges, age-aroriate subject matter
Choral Works by DAVID AVSHALOMOV MIXED CHORUS Secular Sacred WOMEN S VOICES MEN S VOICES Songs o Innocence and o Exerience SATB (divisi in a ew) (Wm. Blake) Double cycle, 45 searate settings, averaging 1-4 min. ea. See ull list overlea. Princiles, secular cantata (Thos. Jeerson) [32 ] SATB (divisi) version, solo baritone, concert band, (or iano, can add erc.) (also or TTBB, below) There s a Wind [4 ] SATB (divisi), (brie S1 solo), ot. wind whistling (lyrics by the comoser) Let the Children Play [4 ] SAB (or SAA), iano, ot. lute(s), (lyrics by the comoser) Go Ahead and Rejoice [2 ] SATB (divisi) (Doris Avshalomov) Father the Tree [4 ] SATB (brie S1 solo) (Doris Avshalomov) Song For Late Summer [4] SATB (divisi) (Doris Avshalomov) U.S. 30 in Idaho [2 ] SATB (divisi) (Doris Avshalomov) The Mixed Blessings, [12 ] SSAATTBB, (rom the Beatitudes Matthew/Luke) handbells (6-7 layers) the Lord! [4:40] SATB (divisi), organ, ot. cymbal (Psalm 150) This Sacred Sace [4:45] Consecration Anthem with congregational hymn SATB (divisi) (brie alto solo)/organ/4 brass/timani (text by the comoser) I Bend the Knee o My Heart [5 ] SATB (divisi) (Canticle 14/Manasseh) O Euchari (Columba Virtutem Illius) Meditation [5] SATB (divisi) (Hildegarde von Bingen) Kedushah or the High Holy Days [5 ] Cantor (solo tenor or sorano), SATB, iano, lute Chanukah tonight! [2:45] SATB (ot. divisi), iano, ot. tamb. (lyrics by the comoser) Also with string orchestra (or mandoline or balalaika orchestra) Hay Anniversary [1 ] SATB Hay Anniversary [1 ] SSAA Let the Children Play [4 ] SAA, iano, ot. lute(s), (lyrics by the comoser) Where You Go, I Will Go (Ruth and Naomi) [12 ] SSAA (brie S2, A2 soli) Do You Believe in Angels? [9 ] SSAA, 8 high strings (or organ reduction) (oem by the comoser) The Angel [3 ] SSA rom Songs o Innocence and o Exerience (Wm. Blake) Enchanted River [2 ], SA, ot. S solo (Meredith Kennedy) Princiles, secular cantata (Thos. Jeerson) [32] Orig. version TTBB (divisi), solo baritone, concert band (or iano, can add erc.) The Star Sangled Banner [1:45] arranged or barbersho quartet or ensemble, TTBB Hay Anniversary [1 ] TTBB NOVELTY The U.S. Air Force Fugue [3 ] TTBB (based on O we Go, into the Wild Blue Yonder ) The Chocolate Carol, Holiday version [4:15] (David/Randi Avshalomov) o SATB (brie divisi), iano, otional lute o SATB a caella caroling version Love & Chocolate, Valentine s version [4:15] o SATB (brie divisi), iano, otional lute o SATB solo quartet, iano The Garlic Blessing [3 ] SATB (brie divisi), iano Flosy, the Christmas Pu [4:45] SATB, iano, ot. bass and drums Perormance materials, ricing, and ull list o works: Raven Music davshalomov@earthlink.net - www.davshalomov.com - (310) 480-9525