SCORED FOR:
Soloist, SATB, piano
OCCASION:
Concert
COMPOSITION DATE:
1988
DESCRIPTION:
A fresh approach mixing modal harmonies, Eastern European cantorial colloratura and reflective melodies.
"...Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Chanina:
The disciples of the sages increase peace in the world, as it is said,
“And all your children shall be taught of the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children [banayich].”
Read not "banayich", “your children", "but bonayich", your builders.
”Those who love Your Torah have great peace;
there is no stumbling block for them.
May there be peace within your ramparts, prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I shall say, “Peace be within you."
For the sake of the House of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
May the Lord grant strength to His people;
may the Lord bless His people with peace..."
BACKGROUND:
Having encountered a number of other settings,
Meir turned his hand to creating
an "alternative" treatment of the text.