Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists

S.A.T.B. Choir — 4’20”

Premiere cancelled due to COVID-19. (March 8, 2020) San Francisco, CA. Magen Solomon, conductor

Tik ’u Chaf (Clap your Hands) was commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists for a program in March of 2020 titled “Joyful Voices, Stomping Feet: Song and Dance in the Jewish Tradition.”  I decided to set a few lines from Psalm 47, and, because of the text, I envisioned a piece where the singers would clap (of course), stomp, and occasionally shout, along with singing more traditionally.  The overall sentiment of singing praises to God rings throughout the piece.

Hebrew Text (transliteration):

Psalm 47: 2-3, 7-8

kol ha-'a-mím tik-'u chaf

ha-rí-'u lé-ló-hím be-kól ri-na.

ki a-dó-nai el-yón nó-ra,

me-lech ga-dól al-kol-ha-'a-rets.

za-me-ru e-ló-hím za-me-ru.

za-me-ru le-mal-ke-nu za-me-ru.

ki me-lech kol ha-'a-rets e-ló-hím

za-me-ru mas-kil.

Translation:

Oh clap your hands, all you nations.

Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

For Yahweh Most High is awesome.

He is a great King over all the earth.

Sing praises to God! Sing praises!

Sing praises to our King! Sing praises!

For God is the King of all the earth.

Sing praises with understanding.