He Has Given Us Light is adapted from Psalm 118 and commissioned from the Judaic Sacred Music Foundation. My thanks to Steve Rothstein for advising me with textual sources and to Hila Plitmann, first for providing an excellent phonetic translation of the Hebrew, and second, for her beautiful premiere performance. "Light" is the emphasis of this song, but the light journeys through a festive dance pulse, a hushed contrapuntal weaving, and an unexpected arrival in the distance of millenia to an anthem of black

civil rights, ultimately settling in joyful radiance. This song was written at the time of the national George Floyd protests. Both voice and piano require special attention to changing timbre in the different sections. The piano part requires a sense of pulse and delicate resonance with the clusters, but also care not to obscure the singer.

Save Me, O God is an expressive piece adapted from Psalm 69. Shaping dynamics and color are important especially in the vocal melismas and piano pedaling. Tempo may have some freedom to create the best sense of ebb and flow.

Va Ya-'ér Lanú He Has Given Us Light adapted from Psalm 118 (text in phoenetic Hebrew with English translation)

Va ya'ér lánu. El, Adonái.

Va ya'ér lánu.

E'ven ma'asú habonim

hay tál' rosh Piná.

Meét Adonái, Haytázot;

Hi Niflát beEynéynu.

Isrú chag baAvotim—

Ad karnót, haMizbé'ach.

Va ya'ér lánu. El, Adonái.

Va ya'ér lánu.

Translation:
He has given us light. The Almighty is God.

He has given us light.

The stone despised by the builders

has become the cornerstone.

This emanated from the Almighty.

It is wondrous in our eyes.

Bind the festival boughs to the altar.

He has given us light. The Almighty is God.

He has given us light.

Save Me, O God

adapted from Psalm 69

Save me, O God,
For the waters are come in unto my soul;
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing;
I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
I am weary of my crying, my throat is dried:
Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.