Chichester Psalms

Commissioned in 1965 by the Dean of Chichester, Bernstein’s colourful Chichster Psalms is one of the composer’s most successful and accessible works on religious texts, contrasting spiritual austerity with impulsive rhythms in a contemplation of peace. The composer fashioned his Oscar-nominated score to the 1954 movie On the Waterfront into a symphonic suite, skillfully capturing the oppression of the New York dockyards in the ’50s. The Three Dance Episodes were extracted from the popular On the Town, Bernstein’s first successful foray into musical theatre.