Lo Yisa Goi No. 2 – Nation Shall Not Raise Sword Against Nation

Instrumental version below (easier to hear the individual parts):

Download the free sheet music (round for 3 voices)

Collection

I have written another setting of Lo Yisa Goi, also a round, that combines with another round, Sim Shalom No. 2 – Lo Yisa Goi No. 1.

The Piece

This three part round is written in 2 languages (Hebrew and English) and 3 different time signatures (4/4, 6/8 and 3/4)! Each line being pitted against the other two. Although this might seem a formula for chaos – just as war is – in fact, the lines end up in rhythmic step with each other. And the piece ends with all three parts singing, in unison, ‘War no more!’. This piece takes confidence, independence, keen listening, cooperation, practice and perseverance to master. But then, so does peace.

Lo yisa goi el goi cherev, v’lo yilm’du od milchamah.

“Nation shall not raise sword against nation,
And they shall not learn war any more.” (Micah 4:3, Isaiah 2:4)

Music and Audio © Alexander Massey 28 January 2017