Evening Meditations was commissioned by the Horace Mann Chamber Choir, Timothy Ho, conductor.  In talking about writing a new composition for the choir, Mr. Ho and I discussed writing a piece which was connected to the Jewish tradition, but at the same time expressed universal themes.  This fit in closely with a key idea for me: of a sense of wonder and gratitude for the world around us as being central to finding a sense of the spiritual in our lives.

I chose two poems that are English interpretations of traditional Hebrew liturgy.  The first, “Bless Adonai who spins day into dusk” is Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s version of the blessing said at each evening service in the Jewish tradition.  The second, “The heaven express your fire” is an interpretation of the beginning of Psalm 19, and is written by Norman Fischer, a Zen Buddhist monk of Jewish origin, who translated a large number of the Psalms in the book Opening to You.

It was a pleasure to write this piece for this excellent high school choir of 17 singers (including my son Daniel, one of the basses). My thanks to Timothy Ho, and to Darin Lewis, chair of the music department.  

Evening Meditations will receive its premiere performance at Saint Jean Baptiste Church, 184 East 76th Street, New York City, Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.

–Gerald Cohen

Bless Adonai

who spins day into dusk

with wisdom watch

the dawn gates open

with understanding let

time and seasons

come and go;

with awe perceive

the stars in lawful orbit

Morning dawns

evening darkens

darkness and light yielding

one to the other

yet each distinguished

and unique.

Marvel at Life!

Strive to know its ways!

Seek Wisdom and Truth,

the gateways

to Life's mysteries!

Wondrous indeed

it is the evening twilight.

-Rami Shapiro,

based on the evening liturgy

The heavens express your fire

The night sky is the work of your hands

Day after day is your spoken language

Night after night your perfect knowing

There is no speech, there are no words

Their voice falls silent

Yet the music plays everywhere

To the ends of the earth its clear notes float out

To the end of the worlds the words pronounced

Become a tabernacle for the sun

-Norman Fischer,

based on Psalm 19