Three versions: a) SATB and SATB semi-chorus b) SSAA and SSAA semi-chorus c) TTBB and TTBB semi-chorus

 

Én kelohenu (There is none like our God) is the second of the Three Mystical Choruses.  The text is a congregational prayer of blessing from the 9th-century. Sametz has used Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria, one of the touchstones of the choral repertoire, as a model for his Én kelohenu.  In melding an ancient Jewish prayer of blessing with a work written by a soldier who fought for the Third Reich, it raises important questions about reconciliation and forgiveness as a possible key to spiritual harmony. Én kelohenu may be performed by mixed, women’s or men’s choirs in three different published scorings.

 Én kelohenu (There is none like our God) En kelohenu, en kadonenu En k’malkenu, en k’moshienu Mi kelohenu, mi kadonenu Mi k’malkenu, mi k’moshienu Node kelohenu, node kadonenu Node k’malkenu, node k’moshienu Baruch kelohenu, baruch kadonenu Baruch k’malkenu, baruch k’moshienu Ata hu elohenu, ata hu adonenu Ata hu malkenu, ata hu moshienu

Translation

There is none like our God, there is none like our Lord There is none like our King, there is none like our Deliverer. Who is like our God, who is like our Lord Who is like our King, who is like our Deliverer. Let us give thanks to our God, Let us give thanks to our Lord Let us give thanks to our King, Let us give thanks to our Deliverer. Blessed is our God, Blessed is our Lord Blessed is our King, Blessed is our Deliverer. You are our God, you are our Lord, You are our King, you are our Deliverer. -Blessing from the morning Shabbat service (9th c. C.E.)