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Late in 2005, I was asked by the music director of the Chancel Choir, Mr. David Pegg and my friend, Dr. Annette Pashayan, a singer in the choir, to compose an anthem for the important occasion of the 75th anniversary of Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem. At first, I was skeptical and had some doubts. I thought to myself, “am I, a Jewish, Israeli composer, the right person to do it? Will I be able to compose a suitable anthem for the church when I come from a different culture and religion?”
Then, David suggested the text of Psalm 84 for this anthem. I took the book of Psalms in my hand and read it in my native language, Hebrew, the language in which it was originally written. I then lost my doubts and I understood David’s and Annette's intention: their request for me to compose an anthem based on a Hebrew Psalm had provided a source of unity between our cultures. The Psalms showed me the things which connect us, the human and true side of our being. I began to compose out of our shared beliefs, with love and understanding. When people of diverse backgrounds discover their shared humanity, the world still has a chance to be a place in which to live and thrive.
I was able to understand both the Hebrew and English texts of the Psalms. I had the advantage of innately understanding inner meanings of the text because Hebrew is my native language. In selecting text for the piece, I chose verses which held great significance to me, along with verses specifically requested by David. As often happens with composers, I found that that the words and the music came together to form a new, unified creation.
When I started composing, it seemed natural for me to open the anthem with loud timpani, as if calling the people to come and gather in the house of the Lord to thank Him for His grace. I sent these first bars of the music to David. He gave me positive feedback, and asked about this word "selah" that I used as a sort of shout from the choir. In my correspondence with David, I discovered that the word "selah" was enigmatic, an ambiguous word with no translation. I went to the books to find more and learned that some scholars interpret “selah” to be a proclamation made by an announcer calling the people to listen to the psalm text, and that this proclamation was often accompanied by drums. So, much to my surprise, even before researching this word, my intuition and subconscious led me to set it in an appropriate musical context. I am happy that I not omit “selah,” even though its meaning might not be immediately recognized by many listeners.
The connection with the Chancel Choir and its music director, David Pegg, has become very dear to me. I hope this collaboration will promote further contact between our religions and cultures and will increase patience and understanding between our communities. It is with great joy that I dedicate this piece to the Chancel Choir of Centenary United Methodist Church of Winston-Salem, NC, on the festive occasion of the church’s 75th anniversary.
Ella Milch-Sheriff
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O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Selah.
Behold, O God our shield,
and look upon the face of thine anointed.
How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts
My soul longeth, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD:
my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
the sparrow hath found a house
and the swallow a nest for herself
where she may lay her young,
even thine altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King, and my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
they will be still praising thee.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield
the LORD will give grace and glory:
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer:
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Selah.
Behold, O God our shield,
and look upon the face of thine anointed.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
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