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Gerald Cohen
Gerald Cohen Music
Oseh Shalom (O You who makes peace)
A prayer for peace, starting within oneself and extending outwards to the whole universe.
Solo Voice, SATB Chorus, and Piano
This setting features a lyrical and peaceful melody, first heard in the solo voice, with words that expand upon a traditional Hebrew text, making it both more personal and more universal: where the original text asks for peace “for us and for all Israel,” the text here speaks of peace “within myself, for us and for all Israel, and all who dwell on earth, and all of the world/universe.”
Composer’s Notes
Oseh Shalom was commissioned by Temple Sholom, Greenwich, CT for Cantor Asa Fradkin and Sasson: The Temple Sholom Teen Choir, in celebration of its centennial. I had never written a choral setting of this very familiar text, and delighted in having the opportunity for Cantor Fradkin, this dedicated teen choir, and this occasion. The premiere of the piece was at Temple Sholom in May, 2016.
As one of the best-known lines of Hebrew liturgy, “Oseh Shalom” is a prayer for peace. In my own private meditations, I had added several lines to the traditional prayer, in an effort to envision the sense of peace coming from within one’s being, to one’s family and people, and finally to all on earth, and the entire world/universe. The commission for the youth choir of Temple Sholom spurred me to set this revised text to music. The serene, but wide-ranging melody is first heard in Hebrew in the solo voice, then in the full choir, before the choir begins a contrasting section, with the prayer sung in English. Finally, the original melody returns, growing in strength, before bringing us to a peaceful conclusion.
-Gerald Cohen
Text
Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu yaaseh shalom b’kirbi,
Aleinu v’al kol Yisrael,
V’al kol yoshvei tevel,
V’al kol haolam,
V’imru amein.
O You who makes peace in the heavens,
Make peace within myself,
For us and all Yisrael,
And all who dwell on earth,
And all our precious world,
And all our wondrous world,
And let us say amen.
-Jewish Liturgy, Gerald Cohen
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