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The Unexpected SATB - Alto Muted - Joshua Fishbein - 1/1

Psalms, Songs, and Blues by Joshua Fishbein
Performed by the combined Plymouth State University Chorale/Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra
Travis Palmer, cantor
Krystal Morin, soprano
Christine Charman, mezzo-soprano
Dan Perkins, conductor

These recordings were taken from the Dec. 6, 2015 performance at Plymouth State University and Dec. 5, 2015 performance at Brookside Congregational Church, Manchester (New Hampshire).

Text:

I.	Hear My Prayer / Sh’ma Koleinu / Exaudi Vocem Meam (English/Hebrew/Latin)

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my crying come unto Thee.
Psalm 102, verse 1 (from Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer)

(Heb.)  Sh'ma koleinu, Adonai eloheinu
               Listen to our voices, Lord our G-d
	       Jewish Liturgy for Yom Kippur

(Lat.)    Exaudi orationem/vocem meam, Domine.
                Hear my prayer/voice, O Lord.
                Psalm 39, verse 12 / Psalm 130, verse 2

II.	S’lach Lanu Avinu (Hebrew)

(Hebrew) 
S'lach lanu avinu ki chatanu,
M'chal lanu malkeinu ki fashanu,
Ki mochel v'soleiach Atah.
Baruch Atah Adonai
Chanun hamarbeh lisloach.
Daily Jewish Liturgy
(Amidah, blessing six)

Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned;
Pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed;
For pardoner and forgiver are you.
Blessed are You, Lord,
Gracious one, who abundantly forgives.
Translation adapted by the composer from The Standard Prayer Book (1915), translation by Simeon Singer 

III.	Timor et Tremor (Latin)

(Latin)
Timor et tremor venerunt super me, 
Fear and trembling have come upon me,
								Psalm 55, verse 6, first half
et caligo cecidit super me:			
and darkness has fallen upon me:
								Psalm 55, verse 5, end
Miserere mei, Domine,			
Have mercy on me, Lord,
quoniam in te confidit anima mea.	
for my soul has trusted in you.
							        Psalm 57, verse 1, first half
      
IV.	Al Naharot Bavel / Super Flumina Babylonis (Hebrew/Latin)

(Heb.) Al naharot Bavel sham yashavnu gam bachinu b'zochrenu et Tsiyon.
(Lat.) Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

(Heb.) Al aravim b'tochah talinu kinoroteinu.
(Lat.)  In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

(Heb.) Ki sham she’elunu shoveinu divrei shir v'tolaleinu simcha 
[shiru lanu mishir Tsiyon.]
(Lat.) [Quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos dixerunt nos, verba cantionum; et qui abduxerunt nos:]  Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.
For they that carried us away required of us a song; and our tormentors for amusement, said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."

(Heb.) Ech nashir et shir Adonai al admat nechar?
(Lat.)  [Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?]
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
									Psalm 137, verse 1 - 4

V.	Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is (English/Hebrew/Latin)

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is: *for brethren, to dwell together in unity!
(Heb.) Hineh mah tov, umah nayim, shevet achim gam yachad.
(Lat.)  Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucundum, habitare fratres in unum.
					            Psalm 133, verse 1
                                                    English from the Church of England 
                                                    1662 Book of Common Prayer

* The word “for” was inserted by the composer from the King James Bible translation of Psalm 133, verse 1.

Mvt. 2 - S'lach Lanu Avinu

This piece was written for Project: Sound under Robert Heath.

"Americana Variations" is a composition/arrangement/compilation of eight Stephen Foster songs. Each song is written in the style of eight prominent American composers since the mid-1800s. Besides the first song, "Old Folks at Home," being in the style of the original
composer, the seven composers are John Phillip Sousa, Charles Ives, George Gershwin,
Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Philip Glass, and John Wililams. All of them have unique voices that has influenced Western music. There were few others in consideration, such as John Cage, but that would've added another 4 minutes and 33 seconds to this piece. Being a fan of both high-brow and low-brow humor, I hope this chamber wind ensemble work will
be enjoyed by both performer and listener.
P.S. There is a "mystery composer" hidden towards the end. Try and see if you can find it.

Instrumentation: 
1 Piccolo
1 Flute
1 Clarinet in Bb
1 Bass Clarinet in Bb 
1 Soprano Saxophone
1 Alto Saxophone 
2 Trumpets in Bb 
2Horns in F
1 Trombone
1 Euphonium 
1 Tuba
1 Piano

Americana Variations ('Murica!) for wind ensemble

The Unexpected
for SATB Chorus and Piano
Music by Joshua Fishbein
Words by Paulo
(Note: Paulo is one of several talented young poets served by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop. Free Minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken DC youth incarcerated as adults to their own potential. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these young poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community.)

Commissioned and Premiered by the Thomas Circle Singers with support from the Nora Roberts Foundation
James Kreger, Artistic Director
Aaron Goen, Piano
Recorded live at Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC on May 18, 2019

The Unexpected
by Paulo

The doors open and I am escorted in
Wearing an oversized orange jumpsuit
I glance around and find myself being stared at
The air circulating the room 
Brings goose bumps to my skin
I just want to run away
I want to hide
And erase the moment
The judge calls out my name
Within minutes, my future is called out
I am left speechless
Escorted out, I struggle to move my legs
My knees want to give up on me
I cannot hold myself together
I am still adding the numbers 

From The Untold Story of the Real Me, 84. 
Washington, DC: Shout Mouse Press, 2015. 
Copyright © 2015 by Free Minds Book Club 
& Writing Workshop. Used by permission.  

Mvt. 2 - S'lach Lanu Avinu

Joshua Fishbein, composer

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