Tehillim - Reich, Steve 1936- (London Hendon Music Boosey & Hawkes, 1981)
'Tehillim' was written in 1981. The title comes from the Hebrew word for "psalms", and the work is the first to reflect Reich's Jewish heritage. It is in four parts, marked fast, fast, slow, and fast.Tehillim is the setting of Psalms 19:2–5 (19:1–4 in Christian translations); Psalm 34:13–15 (34:12–14); Psalm 18:26–27 (18:25–26); and finally Psalm 150:4–6.[1] The four parts of the work are based on these four texts, respectively.[1] "Literally translated [the word Tehillim] means 'praises'," writes Steve Reich in his composer's notes, "and it derives from the three letter Hebrew root ‘hey, lamed, lamed’ (hll) which is also the root of halleluyah."
Keywords: Jews; 20th Century (1901-2000); Vocal music; Chamber music; Minimalist music; Orchestra; Psalm; USA