Great Miracles
SATB chorus (with divisi), organ, AND BRASS QUINTET (2 trumpets, french horn, trombone, tuba) | 8’
This piece is a celebration of miracles: the miracle of Hanukkah, the miracle of life, and the miracles we all experience every day. The cornerstone text in the piece is the Hebrew phrase Neis gadol hayah sham, whose initials appear on the four sides of the Hanukkah dreidel. The text translates to "A great miracle happened there," a reference to the rededication of the holy temple which is commemorated during the festival of Hanukkah. The piece weaves the Hanukkah blessing with passages from daily Jewish prayer about miracles - an excerpt from Modim (a prayer for thanks) and L’dor vador (from generation to generation) from the daily Amidah - to remind us both of the wonders performed in the times of our ancestors and the miracles happening all around us in our own time.
Text
2nd blessing of Hanukkah; Modim and L’dor vador from Daily Amidah
Translation
Rex Isenberg
Nes gadol hayah sham
Hallelujah
A great miracle happened!
A great miracle happened there!
Great miracles happen everywhere!
Nes gadol hayah sham
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-asah nisim l’avoteinu ba-yamim ha-hem bazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this season.
Blessed are you, Lord Our Light
Giver of Life, Ruler of Stars
who has brought great wonders to our people
in ages past and to this day.
And we give thanks unto You
for each life that you hold in Your care,
for each soul entrusted to You, Adonai,
and for the wonders You work all around us
And for the daily miracles,
O Lord, Our Light, whose lovingkindness is without end
And whose wonders never cease
Unto every generation
We place our hope in You.
L’dor vador nagid godlekha ul’netzakh n’tzakhim k’dushat’kha nakdish. V’shivkhaka eloheinu mi-pinu lo yamush l’olam va’ed.
From generation to generation, we will declare Your greatness, and forever proclaim Your holiness. Your praise, O God, shall never leave our lips for all eternity.
A great miracle happened!
A great miracle happened there!
Great miracles happen everywhere!
Adonai, Adonai, Adonai! Hallelujah!
Commission
Great Miracles was commissioned by the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, Dominick DiOrio, artistic director, and supported by Mark Pinzur in celebration of the birth of Benjamin Isaac Lev Pinzur.
Performances
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia
