Esther's Request

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Commissioned By

Tara Sandlin​

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First Performance

November 2022

 

Ensemble

Voice and Piano

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Duration

2 minutes

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Program Notes

Esther is an Old Testament story that shows that God invites us to be a part of his plan for our sake, not for His. In this story, while He is not named, God invites Esther to take part in saving the Jews. Mordecai says in chapter 4, verse 14 “If you keep silent at the time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” 

God was going to save the Jewish nation no matter what, but He offered Esther the chance to be a part of his plan. 

 

This piece was commissioned for Tara Sandlin’s Senior Vocal Recital at Syracuse University. The program outlines the book of Esther. 

 

The text that is used takes place after Esther has become queen when the king asks what her request is. He does not yet know of the plan that has been put into place by one of his officials to wipe out the Jews, so this moment of Esther speaking up saves many lives, and the official who was planning the genocide is executed. 

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Jaclyn Breeze, 2022

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Esther 7:2-4a (NLT)

...the king again said to Esther, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!"

Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us."

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     Score $15