Psalm Offering 5, Opus 3
This Psalm Offering is a musical representation of the Mary and Joseph presenting their infant son, Jesus, in the Temple. As the Lucan account of the story tells us, while there, the family encounters Simeon, who gives praise to God for having lived to see the birth of the Messiah, as he expresses in his great Canticle “Nunc Dimittis”. The Holy Family also encounters the prophetess, Anna.
Melody A, introduces the Holy Family arriving at the Temple. Melody B is Simeon and Anna viewing Jesus and talking with Mary. Melody A returns to conclude the music, as the Holy Family leaves the Temple and ponders what was told to them by Simeon.
I composed this Psalm Offering as a Christmas present for my wife, Ruthie. Though there is some dissonance within its harmonies, I consider it one of my most beautiful compositions. I literally poured out my soul into this music as a love song to my beautiful Ruth. The mysterious qualities she possesses, the beauty of her soul as much as that of her physical features, I tried to express in these simple notes and rhythm. There is none that can compare to my Ruth. She embodies for me all that is good and is the living expression of God to me.
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
