Update Title: 2EA8472D-E275-4D14-A18F-F3B19883AC87

ID

Titlecode

Title Name

Marketing Copy

Instrumentation

Commission

Dedication

Program Notes

This composition is dedicated to Jerusalem's destiny as a city of peace, the place where heaven and earth meet, which channels divine energy into the world.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam consider Jerusalem higher than other earthly places.  Jews ascend to Jerusalem, the site of the holy Temple; Jesus was resurrected from Jerusalem; and Mohammed rose from the Temple Mount to heaven in a nocturnal vision.  In order to achieve peace in the world, we must raise ourselves above divisiveness.  The priestly benedictions from the ancient Temple prepare us to receive the blessing of peace and provide the structure for movements one and two of this composition.

The first movement, "Enter the Sacred Space," expresses the first blessing, "God will bless you and keep you." The quietly expansive music helps prepare a place within us to receive and protect our inner holiness.  The second movement, "Arise into Radiant Grace," conveys the second and third blessings:  "God will shine God's countenance upon you and be gracious unto you," and "God will lift up God's countenance upon you and grant you peace."  The shimmering texture evokes the Light of the Divine Presence.  The upward movement and gradual descent mirrors our rising up into grace and union in order to descend in peace.

The last movement proclaims, "Open Your Gates and Receive God's Glory."  The title refers to psalm 24, "lift up your heads, gates, entrances to eternity, so that the Sovereign of Glory may enter."  Once the gates of the heart (a metaphor for Jerusalem, heart of the world) are opened through the priestly blessings, glory and holiness can fill the world.  Jerusalem then fulfills her destiny as the channel for God's Presence, the Source of peace.  The music opens with tremendous energy and power to evoke the awesome Divine entrance, and then gradually subsides into a state of quiet fullness as the physical level absorbs this influx of holiness.

Three melodies are introduced in the second movement representing the three religions which revere and honor Jerusalem.  "David melech yisrael (David king of Israel)" is a tribute to King David, founder of Jerusalem, the City of David; "a call to Prayer" is from Islam's call to worship; and "Judaea et Jerusalem" is from a Christian Gregorian chant.  These melodic motives, along with shofar calls (a symbol of awe and revelation) are developed in the third movement, and represent the shared desire for peace.  May Jerusalem's destiny as a city of peace and source of radiant holiness in the world be fulfilled quickly, in our lifetime.  --Meira Warshauer

Title Brand

Year Composed

Copyright Number

Copyright Year

Duration

Ensemble Size

Date Created

Date Updated

Inhouse Note

Bsc Code

Text Author

Premier Performance Memo

Recording Credits

Review

Awards

Title Category

Title Movements

Title Grade

Set Series ID

Title Instrument Category Text

Title Sub Category Text

Title Sub Category

Title Instrument Header

Title Grade Text

Clean Url