Reich: Tehillim [Original recording reissued]

'Tehillim' is another Reich favourite of mine. 'Tehillim' breaks from Reich's earlier works in lacking repetition of phrases. As in many of his later works, Reich goes back to his Jewish origins to find inspiration. Here soprano and alto voices sing psalms in Hebrew to the accompaniment of a repetitive percussion track. The result is utterly different from earlier Reich works, lyrical and harmonic. Peaceful shades into exultant with the final setting of 'Hallelujah'.

This version of 'Tehillim' by the Schonberg Ensemble is somewhat muddy and dark compared with the bright and crisp tones given to the piece by members of Steve Reich's own ensemble. I actually prefer the Reich Ensemble version, though both are good.

The bonus that you get with this version of Tehillim is the accompanying piece, 'Three Movements', a reworking of the pulsing themes from 'Desert Music'.

Personally, I'd be inclined to buy the other version of 'Tehillim', plus 'Desert Music', though I've got all three and listen to them all frequently.

I am not a lover of classical music but this music unleashes a torrent of hope & tangible power. Still in the minimalist tradition, it may initially sound repetitive but careful listening will reveal subtle and intriguing variations and shifting textures that become more prominent the more familiar one becomes with the music. There is no repetition of short patterns in Tehillim as the meaning and rhythm of the Psalm texts themselves determine the chromatic, harmonic & modal shifts, the rising & descending melodic lines and the constantly changing meters.

I have always found it to be an inspiring, even rousing listening experience with healing properties. The vocals sound like massed angelic choirs in places although consisting of only two lyric sopranos, one high soprano and one male alto, over hypnotic percussive patterns. The original Hebrew text is provided side by side with the English translation and one is overwhelmed by the massive arsenal of instruments employed: maracas, marimba, tuned tambourines, flute, oboe, vibraphone, organs, violins, viola, crotales and cello to mention a few.

Sacred sound in the form of pure sounds, music, song and chant has been applied as medicine from ancient times. Some consider it the most ancient of all therapies. Pythagoras was aware of this. Others who wrote about the therapeutic effect of music on the soul include the Persian scholar Abu Nasr al-Farabi (872 - 951) who discussed music therapy in his book Meanings of the Intellect and Robert Burton in his extraordinary tome The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621).

The four tracks on Tehillim are Psalms 19: 1 - 4, 34: 12 - 14, 18: 25 - 26 & 150: 4 - 6. The first and fourth tracks are the most exuberant & celebratory whilst the third is the slowest. My favorites are the second ("Who is the man that desires life and loves days to see good? Guard your tongue from evil & your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil & do good, seek peace & pursue it") and the 4th which opens with the line "Praise Him with drum & dance," an immensely powerful piece that is the most beautiful expression of spiritual ecstasy.

Literally, Tehillim means "praises." The word is derived from the root H-L-L (Hey Lamed Lamed) which is also the source of the word Halleluyah. The Hebrew word for a single psalm is Mizmor. Further information on sonic healing and music therapy is available in Sacred Sounds by Ted Andrews, Words of Power by Brian Crowley and Jonathan Goldman's Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics.

Another Reich favourite of mine. 'Tehillim' breaks from Reich's earlier works in lacking repetition of phrases. As in many of his later works, Reich goes back to his Jewish origins to find inspiration. Here soprano and alto voices sing psalms in Hebrew to the accompaniment of a repetitive percussion track. The result is utterly different from earlier Reich works, lyrical and harmonic. Peaceful shades into exultant with the final setting of 'Hallelujah'.

This version of 'Tehillim' by members of Steve Reich's own ensemble is brighter and crisper in tone than the alternative recording available (Schonberg Ensemble), and I for one prefer it.

The one quibble I would have is that this cd is rather short (not much over 30 minutes).