LISTEN: Full Audio
Oak Ridge Symphony
Dan Alcott, Conductor
Premiere Performance 3/30/19
“It was one of the most exquisite pieces of music I have ever heard.”
~Harold Duckett, KnoxTNToday.com
Read Full Review
PROGRAM NOTES:
In celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centenary (August 25, 2018), Lucas Richman received permission from the Leonard Bernstein Office to create a new work for chorus and orchestra inspired by the speech Maestro Bernstein delivered to the United Jewish Fund two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Known as “An Artist’s Response to Violence,” the speech addresses the manner in which musicians might best use their abilities in the aftermath of tragedy:
“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” *
~Leonard Bernstein
The three movements of Richman’s “Symphony: This Will Be Our Reply” expand upon these three directives, exploring the contrasts of great beauty and horrific violence that pervade our modern era. In the process of musically capturing the daily struggle to rise above the steady onslaught of incomprehensible savagery, certain motives can be traced throughout the work as they evolve from a place of benign passivity to orders of an imperative nature. The work ultimately resolves with an anthemic setting of an original poem which frames the ancient Hebrew text, “L’Takken et Ha’Olam (Repair the World),” uplifting the essence of Bernstein’s profound message.
I. Intensity
II. Beauty
III. Devotion
“Symphony: This Will Be Our Reply” was commissioned by a consortium of organizations including the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony for performances in the 2018-2019 Season.
*Used by permission of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.
SYMPHONY: THIS WILL BE OUR REPLY
III. DEVOTION
Va’anachnu text from the Jewish Liturgy
Tikkun Olam text by Lucas Richman
Va’anachnu kor’im, BUT WE BEND OUR KNEES
Umishtachavim umodim AND BOW DOWN AND EXPRESS THANKS
Lif’nei Melech, BEFORE THE KING,
Malchei ha’m’lachim, KING OF KINGS
Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Azor lanu lehavin HELP US TO UNDERSTAND
Ma nuchal la’asot neged alimut. WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCE.
Ma nuchal la’asot? WHAT CAN WE DO?
L’ma-an bateinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR HOMES
L’ma-an chavereinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FRIENDS
L’ma-an kadur ha-aretz FOR THE SAKE OF OUR EARTH
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
L’ma-an kehiloteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITIES
L’ma-an medinoteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRIES
L’ma-an kadur ha-aretz FOR THE SAKE OF OUR EARTH
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
Aleinu l’takken et ha-olam WE MUST REPAIR THE WORLD
L’ma-an imoteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MOTHERS
L’ma-an avoteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FATHERS
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
L’ma-an b’noteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR DAUGHTERS
L’ma-an baneinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SONS
Aleinu l’takken et ha-olam WE MUST REPAIR THE WORLD
L’ma-an sichlenu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE
L’ma-an simchateinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR JOY
L’ma-an ha’ahava FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
L’ma-an hashalom FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
L’ma-an nishmoteinu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SOULS
L’ma-an hemshech kiyumenu FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FUTURE
Aleinu l’takken et ha-olam WE MUST REPAIR THE WORLD
Tikkun Olam HEAL THE WORLD
© LeDor Publishing 2018