NOTE: Performance of B’kol Rina begins at 3:00 of this video.

About

B’kol Rina (With Joyful Song) was commissioned by Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, IN, in honor of Cantor Melissa Cohen’s 10 years as Cantor of the congregation. Cantor Cohen wished for a celebratory piece for soloist, chorus and orchestra, that would also feature the congregation’s excellent organ. Psalm 47 is a joyful psalm that calls on all the world to celebrate God with singing and instruments—specifically trumpet and shofar (a trumpet made of a ram’s horn). This psalm is accordingly recited every Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) before the sounding of the shofar, with additional verses from other psalms.

The piece is joyful and exuberant from the opening soprano solo, and features many shifting meters in creating its dance-like motion. Focus shifts between soloist and chorus in building the jubilant mood; the trumpet and horn add sounds suggesting the shofar. Towards the end, the soloist sings a more reLlective section based on lines from Psalm 119, which then leads to the chorus and orchestra’s Linal exuberant return to the opening lines and melodies.

B’kol Rina had its premiere in November 2025 with Cantor Melissa Cohen as soprano soloist, with the chorus of Beth-El Zedeck and members of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

—Gerald Cohen

Score

Text

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-9; Psalm 119: 66, 108

Transliteration:
Kol ha-amim tiku chaf, hari-u lelohim b’kol rina!
Ki Adonai elyon nora, melech gadol al kol ha-aretz.
Ala elohim bitru-a, Adonai b’kol shofar!
Zam’ru elohim zameru! zam’ru l’malkenu zameru!
Ki melech kol ha-aretz elohim, zam’ru maskil.
Malach elohim al goyim, elohim yashav al kise kodsho.

Tuv ta-am vada-at lam’deni, ki v’mitzvotecha he-emanti.
Nidvot pi r’tze na Adonai, umishpatecha lam’deni.

Translation by Pamela Greenberg, from The Complete Psalms
Clap your hands, all nations! Trumpet a cry of exultation to God!
For the Exalted One Lills us with wonder, from the highest heavens throughout the earth.
You rise with a blast of the trumpet! You are heard in the voice of the shofar
Sing out to the Holy One, sing out! Sing out to the one who gives us direction, sing out!
For God is sovereign over all the earth; make a melody of your understanding.
God reigns over nations; God sits on a holy throne.

Reason is worthy, so teach me knowledge, for I have believed in Your will.
The offerings of my mouth are freely given; please accept them, Creator, and teach me the ways of your justice