Psalm
for flute (or oboe) and piano (or harpsichord)

Psalm for a melody instrument and piano is based on the manuscript of an unfinished work by Alexander U. Boskovich from 1962. It was post-serial work-in-progress, originally scored for oboe and harpsichord, however, some of the notes in the keyboard part exceed the range of instrument. Also, there are dynamic and expressions marking that clearly suggest to me that the keyboard part can be played on piano.

Since the original melody part overlaps the range of at least four woodwind instruments, the work can be performed on oboe, flute, clarinet or soprano saxophone. Naturally, the piano part can be adapted too to the harpsichord.

The manuscript ends through measure 66. After analyzing the manuscript, I decided to continue the musical narrative in its original style and round it out into an integrated form. The score from measure 67 to the end is my own contribution.

The time span and geographical distance from the original are by now overwhelming: forty-four years and two continents apart. After all these years, I am still convinced that the elan of Boskovich's music shall speak for itself.

Yehuda Yannay
March 2006,
Shorewood, WI, USA