The following is an excerpt from a 2003 article by Joseph Carman:
"What fired [Limón's] inspiration for 'Psalm' was a novel about Jewish persecution, 'The Last of the Just' by Andre Schwarz-Bart. Published in 1960, it explored the idea in Jewish folklore that each generation harbored 36 inconspicuous men […] who ensured the safety and survival of the world through their pure, selfless conduct and by shouldering the burden of the world’s sorrows. Limon distilled these 36 men down to one, known as ‘The Burden Bearer’ whose role was seen as an outcast/martyr.”
“‘Psalm’ projects strong images of fire throughout the progression of the piece. The work ends with the group in the middle of the stage, hands flickering like flames, as if in a crucible. The soloist circles around them. [Former Limón artistic director] Carla Maxwell said: ‘It’s similar to the idea of firing a pot to make it strong, the image is of people burning in the flames, but the power and strength of their commitment and belief will outlive them.’ In his notes, Limón stated, ‘The choreographic treatment as I envision it would be an evocation of the heroic power of the human spirit, triumphant over death itself.’”
José Limón's "Psalm". Photo by Gene Begnato, 1967.
We talked to Nicholas Ruscica about José Limón's "Psalm" which appears on tonight's program.
LJ: What was your first experience with this work?
NR: "My first experience with 'Psalm' wasn't physical, it was a piece of text called 'The Last of the Just,' which is a novel that José read which inspired his choreographed process. It talks about the turmoil and difficulties that people of the Jewish faith have experienced and the displacement they have faced. We meet this character, the last just man. We call this man the 'Burden Bearer'." [Nicholas dances this role]
LJ: How do you understand this character?
NR: "The Burden Bearer has this connection to something beyond themself; they are not always fully aware of or able to understand, but they have these premonitions of what is to come. The character in the novel, willfully puts himself inside of a concentration camp to be with his fellow brothers and sisters inside of their struggle. Sadly, they all die in a gas chamber, and that is the final image of 'Psalm'."
LJ: Where is your character at the beginning of the piece—emotionally or physically—and where does the journey end?
NR: "The piece begins with searching. We're looking for a new home as we've been displaced. My first solo is like this pleading, "Why us us?" The second solo is calling out to a higher power and asking for some sort of forgiveness or kindness. And the last solo is just throwing yourself desperately, it's the last hope. It's a very tragic piece. But we talk a lot about the perseverance of spirit. How through tragedy the human spirit continues on. And that's why the community of Jewish people still exists in this world: because of their perseverance."
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