Y'did Nefesh
Steve Cohen
About this work:
Y’did Nefesh (2007)
Y’did Nefesh is a piyyut, a Jewish liturgical poem that is meant to be chanted or recited during religious services. It was written by the sixteenth century kabbalist, Rabbi Elazar Azikri (1533-1600) of Safed. Azikri’s philosophy centered on the intense love one must feel for God, a theme that is clearly evident in the words of Y’did Nefesh. As with many other piyyutim, Y’did Nefesh is an acrostic poem: the first letters of each of the four verses make up the four-letter name of God, known in English as the Tetragrammaton.
I visited Israel with my family in April 2007. While we were there, we attended a Kabbalat Shabbat service at Congregation Kol Han’shamah in Jerusalem. The service began with the congregational singing of various songs, including Y’did Nefesh. While I was already familiar with the text, and several musical settings of it, I felt reintroduced to it in this new situation. I started thinking of writing my own setting. Later that year, I attended the North American Jewish Choral Festival, and heard my friends Natasha Hirschhorn and Ramón Tasat singing duets in a concert. Wanting to write something specifically for them to perform, and remembering my Israeli encounter with Y’did Nefesh, I started work shortly after the Festival. The first draft was finished on August 25, 2007, and their first performance of it was given on June 15, 2008 at the Third Shalshelet Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Heart’s delight, Source of mercy, draw Your servant into Your arms.
I leap like a deep to stand in awe before You.
Your love is sweeter to me than the taste of honey.
World’s light, shining glory, my heart is faint for love of You.
Heal it, O God; help my heart; show me Your radiant splendor.
Let me return to strength and have joy forever.
Have compassion, O Faithful One, pity for Your loved child.
How long I have hoped to see Your glorious might.
O God, my heart’s desire, have pity and hold back no more.
Show Yourself, Beloved, and cover me with the shelter of Your peace.
Light up the world with Your presence, that we may exult and rejoice in You.
Hurry, Loved One, the appointed time as come. Show us grace as long ago.
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 00:03:49
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Two or More Solo Voices with Keyboard
Instrumentation: 1 Piano, ,1 Soprano soloist(s), ,1 Tenor soloist(s)