"Sacred Place" by Alex Berko

World premiere of Alex Berko's (b.1995) Sacred Place for choir, violin, cello, and piano. Performed during "The Muse Speaks: House of Belonging" at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Austin, TX on March 31, 2023. Commissioned as part of the Joel Brauer New Music Fund for New Music. Text & Soloists below, program note at www.conspirare....
I. Opening Prayer
In the dusk of the river, the wind
gone, the leaves grow still-
The beautiful poise of lightness,
The heavy world pushing toward it.
-Wendell Berry
II. Amidah
“How softly these mountain rocks are adorned, and how fine and reassuring the company they keep - their brows in the sky, their feet set in groves and gay emerald meadows, a thousand flowers leaning confidingly against their adamantine bosses, while birds bees butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music - things frail and fleeting and types of permanence meeting here and blending as if into this glorious mountain temple Nature had gathered her choicest treasures, whether great or small to draw her lovers into close confiding communion with her.”
-John Muir to Teddy Roosevelt (on preserving Yosemite National Park)
III. Shema
The earth says have a place, be what that place
requires; hear the sound the birds imply
and see as deep as ridges go behind
each other.
The earth says every summer have a ranch
that’s minimum: one tree, one well, a landscape
that proclaims a universe - sermon
of the hills, hallelujah mountain,
highway guided by the way the world is tilted,
reduplication of mirage, flat evening:
a kind of ritual for the wavering.
The earth says where you live wear the kind
of color that your life is (grey shirt for me)
and by listening with the same bowed head that sings
draw all things into one song, join
the sparrow on the lawn, and row that easy
way, the rage without met by the wings
within that guide you anywhere the wind blows.
Listening, I think that’s what the earth says.
-William Stafford
IV. Mi Sheberach
May the source of strength
Who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing
And let us say Amen
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah (a complete healing, “get well soon”)
The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit
And let us say Amen
-Old Testament
V. Kaddish
“Let my thoughts come to you, when I am gone, like the afterglow of sunset at the margin of starry silence.”
-Rabindranath Tagore
VI. Closing Prayer
In the dusk of the river, the wind
gone, the leaves grow still-
The beautiful poise of lightness,
The heavy world pushing toward it.
-Wendell Berry
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor
Soloists:
I. Opening Prayer: Haitham Haidar, tenor
II. Amidah: Kathlene Ritch, soprano, Haitham Haidar, tenor
III. Shema: Chelsea Helm, soprano
IV. Mi Shebeirach
David Rivera, tenor
Lauren McAllister, alto
Simon Barrad, bass
Meg Dudley, soprano
VI. Closing Prayer: Haitham Haidar, tenor
Instrumentalists:
Carla McElhaney (piano)
Sandy Yamamoto (violin)
Daniel Kopp (cello)
@alexberko5318
Lighting Design: Viera Buzgova
Video and audio: Eddie Jennings

[@eyqs]

0:05 - I. Opening Prayer 0:46 - II. Amidah 4:47 - III. Shema 9:53 - IV. Mi Shebeirach 13:59 - V. Kaddish 18:28 - VI. Closing Prayer

[@TerryLaun]

Another beautiful piece of music! I had the privilege of hearing "A House on the Hill" and "Heirloom" at the Louisville Orchestra Coffee Concert on May 10. I'm a quiet person and seldom yell "Bravo!" at a performance, but I was compelled. I sat raptly with a big smile on my face the whole time. Thank you for sharing your talent with us! Best wishes.

[@TomFlaherty2]

Beautiful settings, moving performance!

[@kareng6583]

Beautiful

[@richardcarlson2798]

Oh yes 🙌