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” (Intensity/Beauty/Devotion) expand upon these three directives, exploring the contrasts of great beauty and horrific violence that pervade our modern era. The work ultimately resolves with this anthemic setting of an original poem, “Tikkun Olam (Heal the World),” uplifting the essence of Bernstein’s profound message.
* Used by the permission of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.
Tikkun Olam (Heal the World)
Text and Music by Lucas Richman
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
