Abstract
Psalm 143 for chorus a cappella was written in the spring of 1951 while I was studying composition with Paul Hindemith. It is not difficult to trace the strong influence of Hindemith in this work; phrase structure, the extended tonal language, contrapuntal texture, the overall modal flavor of the melodic lines, all betray an admiration for the esthetic and the techniques of my teacher. But I was also affected by the wonderful experience of singing a wide range of choral music under Hindemith’s leadership. Our repertoire extended from Perotin through Bruckner, prepared with inspired insight into the style and expression of each individual composer.
During the composition of the Psalms, Hindemith actually intervened very little except at one point towards the end of the section “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul” where he proposed a swiftly moving running figure to provide an exciting transition to the opening material.
The first performance was at Yale for a small student group under my direction.
— Yehudi Wyner