"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that
never were. But without it, we go nowhere."
AUTHOR: Carl Sagan
MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
"What starts only in our imagination
LINKS
AUTHOR: Carl Sagan
"What starts only in our imagination
can create our reality."
COMPOSER
PENDERECKI
SEVEN GATES OF JERUSALEM
Symphony No. 7 for Five Soloists
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MAIN INFORMATION FROM:
SEVEN GATES OF JERUSALEM
Symphony No. 7 for Five Soloists
(2 sopranos, alto, tenor, bass),
narrator, three mixed choirs
and orchestra
Written in 7 Movements
Written in 7 Movements
Composed: 1996
Time: Approximately 60 minutes
Krzysztof Penderecki first passed
through the seven gates of Jerusalem
in 1974, during an unofficial visit to
Israel, which at the time was off limits
owing to military conflicts (following the
Yom Kippur War) with the Arabs. The
Holy Land impressed the composer
deeply, especially because he felt
he was tracing Christ's steps.
He visited Bethlehem
he was tracing Christ's steps.
He visited Bethlehem
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| Vasily Polenov: Bethlehem, 1882 |
and Nazareth,
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| Vasily Polenov: Nazareth, 1882 |
Masada,
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| Edward Lear: Masada on the Dead Sea, 1858 |
and Hebron.
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| Artist Unknown: City of Hebron, 1844 |
Later he returned to Israel for
pleasure. In 1987 he was awarded the
important prize for music from the Wolf
Foundation of Israel. With the support of
Teddy Kollek,
the legendary mayor of Jerusalem,
among others, Penderecki received in
1995 a commission to compose
a work for the celebrations for the
third millennium of that city.
among others, Penderecki received in
1995 a commission to compose
a work for the celebrations for the
third millennium of that city.
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| Aristarkh Lentulov: Gates of Tour, Study for the New Jerusalem, 1917 |
Penderecki, who had already composed
five symphonies and planned out his sixth
in concept, decided in favor of a new vocal
work (originally conceived as an oratorio)
and chose for its theme and original title
"Seven Gates of Jerusalem" (there is an
eighth "golden" gate but, according to
Jewish tradition, this is reserved for
the arrival of the Messiah).
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| David Roberts: The Golden Gate of Jerusalem from The Holy Land |
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| Another view of the Golden Gate |
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| Golden Gate |
Taking the texts mostly from the
Book of Psalms
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| Edward Burne-Jones: The Book of Psalms, ca. 1890 |
with some excerpts from other Old
Testament Books, Seven Gates of
Jerusalem is Penderecki's rendering of
a decidedly Christian (not Jewish or Muslim)
view of Jerusalem as portrayed in
Western church music.
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| Damascus Gate |
The piece premiered on January 9,1997
in Jerusalem and 2 months later, following
the work's Polish premiere, he decided to
call it his Seventh Symphony.
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| Dung Gate |
The number seven has long fascinated
Penderecki. For "Seven Gates" he wrote
seven movements. The main theme of
each of the respective moments II and
IV has seven different notes that serve
as the starting material for the passacaglia-
like structures of these movements. Again
and again, one finds in the score distinctly
emphasized groups of seven quarter notes
that are repeated on a single pitch. Finally,
there are the seven powerful fortissimo
chords that end the seventh and
final movement of the work.
SEVEN GATES OF JERUSALEM
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| Damascus Gate |
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| The Eight Gates of Jerusalem: Zion Gate, Dung Gate, Golden Gate, Lions' Gate, Herod's Gate, Damascus Gate, New Gate, Jaffa Gate All the eight gates in the picture are arranged by geographical location. |
PART I
Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis
(Great is the Lord, and to be praised)
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| Zion Gate |
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| Zion Gate |
PART II
Si oblitus fuero tui, Ierusalem
(If I forget you, Jerusalem)
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| Dung Gate |
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| Dung Gate |
PART III
De profundis
(Out of the depths, have I called you, O Lord)
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| New Gate |
PART VII
Haec dicit Dominus:
Ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitae, et viam mortis
(Thus says the Lord)
The meaning of the word seven in the
Hebrew is shevah. It is from the root savah,
to be full or satisfied; to have enough of.
Hence the meaning of the word "seven" is
dominated by this root, for on the seventh
day God rested from the work of Creation.
It was full and complete; good and perfect.
Nothing could be added to it or taken from
it without marring it. Hence the word Shavath,
to cease, desist, rest, and Shabbath, Sabbath,
or day of rest. Of time, it tells of the Sabbath,
and marks off the week of seven days, which,
artificial as it may seem to be, is universal and
immemorial in its observance amongst
all nations and in all times.
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| Ben Avram: Gate of Jerusalem |
HERE IS A LIST
OF SOME FAMOUS 7'S
7 DAYS IN A WEEK
7 FUNDAMENTAL NOTES
or modulations of the musical scale
(In each of these the eighth is only a repetition of the first)
7 COLORS OF THE SPECTRUM
OR RAINBOW
(visible spectrum only):
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet
7 DIRECTIONS
left, right, up, down, forward, back, and center
7 DEADLY SINS
lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride
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| Hieronymus Bosch: Seven Deadly Sins |
Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea,
Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico
7 VIRTUES
chastity, temperance, charity, diligence,
kindness, patience, and humility
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| Sandro Botticelli (first from the left); Piero del Pollaiolo (others): Theological and Cardinal Virtues, c 1471 |
7 CONTINENTS
North America, South America, Europe,
Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia
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| Damascus Gate |
