Composed By: Moshe Wilensky

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Voicing: SATB

Keyword Israel, Zion

Event/Holiday: Israel Independence Day

Language: Hebrew

Difficulty: moderate

Country: Israel

Solos: none

Instruments: none

Lyrics: Isaiah 52:1

Publisher: Transcontinental

Year Composed/Published: 1959

Timing: 2:30

Tempo: fast

First Line: uri tsiyon hoy uri livshi uzech

description: One of the favorite themes of the “enlightened” Jews of the nineteenth century and the Zionist Jews of the early twentieth century was that of the Jewish people awakening from centuries of slumber to begin a new life. The words of the ancient prophet Isaiah (“Awake, O Zion! Clothe yourself in splendor… arise, shake off the dust, sit on your throne, Jerusalem!”) were relevant to this modern audience. Moshe Wilenski’s setting of these lyrics captures the excitement of this renaissance. “Uri Tsiyon” is based on the Mixolydian mode and is replete with the syncopated rhythms of the horah dance. There is a great deal of variety in this little piece: homophony and polyphony, dynamic changes, modulations. A rousing way to end or begin a concert program.