Blessing

• Jewish & Christian prayer
• Mixed chorus, 4-part divisi
• Accessible (high school and above)
• Duration: ca. 3.5 min.

Blessing was commissioned by the Te Deum Chamber Choir, with artistic director Matthew Christopher Shepard, and premiered in October 2018.  It sets an English translation of the Birkat Kohanim, or Priestly blessing, a Jewish prayer for God’s blessing and for peace.  A variation of this blessing is also recited in some Christian traditions.  Blessing alternates between homophonic, straightforward statements and layering of aleatoric repetitions over sustained chords.  As congregants in a synagogue, or individuals in any faith community, the voices are heard both as unique and with the strength of the whole.  It is published by See•A•Dot Music Publishing.