Composer: Sarah RiskindDetailsFormat: Male VoicesVoicing: TBBAccompaniment: obbligato instrument(s)Instrumentation: pianoviolinNotation: standardPerformance Length: 5:00 Study Scores & Audio FilesStudy Score & Audio Order Printed ScoresOrder site / Alternate source of score: SarahRiskind.com Texts & TranslationsLanguage(s): EnglishHebrewText Source: Rabbi Rachel Barenblat, from Open My Lips; Psalms 23:6Text: Psalm of the Sky for those who dwell in uncertainty You are my parachute I will not fall in Your arms I float easy and the air buoys me I can do backflips, I can wave to my fellow skydivers I can sink into unknowing without freezing though I have no idea how distant the ground or where I will land I am not afraid Your silent presence comforts me when You dance with me I forget to feel ungainly You will cradle me all the days of my life spin with me in the stratosphere forever Ach, tov vachesed yird’funi- kol- y'mei chayai; v'shavti b'veit- Adonai, l'orech yamim. [Amen]Translation: Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Programming AidsPerformance Difficulty: moderateSeasonal Usage: Memorial ServicesDescriptive Terms: comfortflightfaithhopesufferingAllow Excerpts: Composition is a single movementComposer’s Notes: In the powerfully vivid poem "Psalm of the Sky," Rabbi Rachel Barenblat reimagines "The Lord is My Shepherd" (Psalm 23) in a contemporary context. Performers can highlight the many instances of text painting and create contrast between moments of gentleness, boldness, and carefree movement. The last verse of Psalm 23 in Hebrew is used as a coda in a similar style to many prayers sung in Jewish worship; this allusion to Barenblat's textual inspiration is intended to express the enduring human need for comfort and hope despite changing modes of worship. Additional InformationDate of Completion: September, 2018Date of First Performance: Saturday, February 23, 2019Premier Performance Data: Ensemble X (Austin Ridlen, cond), Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
