World premiere of 'Psalm 22' finds an enthusiastic audience
Maureen Forrester's world premiere performance of Oskar Morawetz's Psalm
22 which he accompanied, as part of her Trinity Church concert March 17
(launching the CBC-radio distinguished artists series; it will be broadcast
March 30 at 11.05 a.m. on the FM network) was the highlight of the 1979-80
Toronto Jewish concert season so far. The initial audience reaction was most
enthusiastic.
Psalm 22, of course, is the archetypical challenge to the existence of God,
depicting the real world in which evil exists. The famous first line is "My God,
my God, why have you forsaken me?"
In his program note, Oskar Morawetz states: "I could not help to be reminded
again vividly of the suffering and fate of prisoners in the Nazi concentration
camps." And so, Morawetz's composition perfectly evokes Psalm 22's ultimate
emotional impact.
Beginning with a correct mood of abstract dynamic but deliberately initially
chaotic agitation, to interpret the growing yet disorganized mood of man's
protest against the inhumanities of the world around him, the piece slowly
builds with increasingly atonal dissonance and harsh vocal statements. The
dramatic focus-climax, marked by definitive open-fifth chords (expertly
performed on the piano by Morawetz himself) comes during the passage: "All my
foes will say, 'We have beaten him!' And all my oppressors will have the joy of
seeing me stumble!"
Then, the recapitulation of the original challenge-question concludes in the
abruptly different spirit of stately, lyrical, abstract semi-liturgical subdued
protest which Forrester performed in a powerfully haunting yet subtly controlled
manner.
