Paul Richards’ “Yussel’s Prayer”
FNMC commissioned Paul Richards, (winner of the flute and accompaniment category of the FNMC Composition Contest in 2017 for Entanglements for flute and piano), to write a new work for solo flute for the final round of the 2020 FNMC Flute Artist Competition. The resulting work was titled Yussel's Prayer and was performed by the competition finalists on January 17, 2020 at Stony Brook University and premiered by FNMC Flute Artist Competition winner, Lisa Westervelt at the New Music Festival gala concert on Saturday, January 18, 2020.
If you have an upcoming performance or if you've performed Yussel's Prayer and it is not listed on this page, please submit your information here.
Program Note from the Composer:
In Yussel’s Prayer, a delightful children’s book by Barbara Cohen, Yussel is an orphan boy who is watching the cows on Yom Kippur while the rest of his village is praying. Knowing it is a special day, Yussel fashions a reed pipe and plays music, as he knows no prayers. While the inauthentic prayers of those in the synagogue fail to reach heaven, Yussel's prayer is heartfelt enough for the Rabbi of the congregation to begin the closing service that ends the day of fasting and repentance. This piece imagines Yussel's music, which is plaintive and soulful, with a dance that grows in energy in the middle.
If you have an upcoming performance or if you've performed Yussel's Prayer and it is not listed on this page, please submit your information here.
Program Note from the Composer:
In Yussel’s Prayer, a delightful children’s book by Barbara Cohen, Yussel is an orphan boy who is watching the cows on Yom Kippur while the rest of his village is praying. Knowing it is a special day, Yussel fashions a reed pipe and plays music, as he knows no prayers. While the inauthentic prayers of those in the synagogue fail to reach heaven, Yussel's prayer is heartfelt enough for the Rabbi of the congregation to begin the closing service that ends the day of fasting and repentance. This piece imagines Yussel's music, which is plaintive and soulful, with a dance that grows in energy in the middle.
WOLRD PREMIERE BY LISA JAKLITSCH WESTERVELT (2020)
PERFORMANCES
Lisa Westervelt
FNMC New Music Festival Gala Concert
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
Saturday, January 18, 2020, 8:00 PM EST
Nicole Riner
SWOSU Flute Day guest artist recital
Weatherford, OK and worldwide on Zoom
Sunday, October 18, 2020, 5:00 PM CDT
Shelley Martinson
SWOSU Virtual Faculty Artist Recital
Weatherford, OK
Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 4:00 PM CST
Ashley Shank
Together, Alone Concert Series
Recital Hall (Livestream only)
Penn State
University Park, PA
Monday, March 8, 2021, 7:30 PM EST
FNMC New Music Festival Gala Concert
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
Saturday, January 18, 2020, 8:00 PM EST
Nicole Riner
SWOSU Flute Day guest artist recital
Weatherford, OK and worldwide on Zoom
Sunday, October 18, 2020, 5:00 PM CDT
Shelley Martinson
SWOSU Virtual Faculty Artist Recital
Weatherford, OK
Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 4:00 PM CST
Ashley Shank
Together, Alone Concert Series
Recital Hall (Livestream only)
Penn State
University Park, PA
Monday, March 8, 2021, 7:30 PM EST
