Symphony No. 1 (Bernstein)
Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 Jeremiah was composed in 1942. Jeremiah is a programmatic work, following the Biblical story of the prophet Jeremiah. It uses texts from the Book of Lamentations in the Hebrew Bible, sung by a mezzo-soprano. The work won the New York Music Critics' Circle Award for the best American work of 1944.[1]
Instrumentation
The symphony is written for 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, E-flat clarinet doubling bass clarinet, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, wood block, maracas, piano, mezzo-soprano, and strings.
Movements
The symphony is in three movements:
- Prophecy
- Profanation
- Lamentation
Hebrew text
peReQ 1.1-3
Eicha yashva vadad ha-ir
Rabati am
Hay’ta k’almana:
Rabati vagoyim
Sarati bam’dinot
ay’ta lamas.
Bacho tivkeh balaila,
V’dim’ata al lecheya;
En la m’nachem
Mikol ohaveha;
Kol re’eha bag’du va
Hayu la l’oy’vim.
Galta Y’huda meoni,
Umerov avoda:
Hi yashva vogoyim
Lo matsa mano-ach;
Kol rod’feha hisiguha
Ben hamitsarim.
peReQ 1.8
Chet chata Y’rushalayim
(Eicha yashva vadad ha-ir
...k’almana.)
peReQ 4.14-15
Na-u ivrim bachutsot
N’go-alu badam,
B’lo yuchlu
Yig’u bilvushehem.
Suru tame kar’u lamo,
Suru, suru al tiga-u...
peReQ 5.20-21
Lama lanetsach tishkachenu...
Lanetsach taazvenu...
Hashivenu Adonai elecha
English translation
CHAPTER 1.1-3
How doth the city sit solitary,
That was full of people!
How is she become as a widow?
She that was great among the nations.
And princess among the provinces.
How is she become tributary!
She weepeth sore in the night,
And her tears are on her cheeks;
She hath none to comfort her
Among all her lovers;
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her,
They are become her enemies.
Judah is gone into exile because of affliction.
And because of great servitude;
she dwelleth among the nations,
she findeth no rest.
all her pursuers overtook her
Within the narrow passes.
CHAPTER 1.8
Jerusalem hath grievously sinned...
How doth the city sit solitary
...a widow.
CHAPTER 4.14-15
They wander as blind men in the streets,
they are polluted with blood,
so that men cannot
touch their garments.
Depart, ye unclean! they cried unto them,
Depart, depart! touch us not...
CHAPTER 5.20-21
Wherefore dost thou forget us forever,
and forsake us so long time?...
Turn thou us unto thee, o lord...
Premiere
The work was premiered on January 28, 1944, at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh with the composer conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The soloist was Jennie Tourel. It was premiered in New York City on March 29, 1944, at Carnegie Hall, again with Tourel as soloist.[2]