PSALM 23 | SSAATTBB

DURATION | ~5:46

KEY(S) | C major; Db major; F minor/Ab major; F major

ACCOMPANIMENT | A cappella

DIFFICULTY | Advanced

“Psalm 23” speaks to the power of inner peace. Using the text of the well-known psalm from the Bible (KJV), this piece explores a combination of Hebrew musical modes and Western tonal practice. The soundscapes created aim to give both the performers and the listeners a sense of freedom, encouragement, and power to undertake whatever they may face.

When composing this piece, I had two things in mind: (1) my newborn nephew, and (2) the choir that I was a part of (University Singers, University of Alabama). The emotion I kept feeling throughout the process was overwhelming gratitude. Gratitude for a healthy new nephew, gratitude to sing among such talented and wonderful humans, gratitude for life itself. This psalm has served as a source of my comfort for many years, drawing from it when I feel the overwhelm of life bearing down upon me. While not someone of Jewish faith, I wanted to create a setting of this psalm that payed homage to its Hebrew and Jewish origins while also combining musical elements that were more familiar to me — a bridge between the past and present, if you will. My hope is that this piece will give those who interact with it the same comfort and renewed strength that it gives me, regardless of prescribed religious following.