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Music Notes: Voices of Shekhina, Four Illuminations
By
David Amos
The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra has commissioned and premiered many new
works throughout its history. Most of these new compositions have been exciting,
audience-pleasing, and hopefully, of lasting musical value.
The
latest edition in this tradition is a new composition, which will receive its
first hearing on Nov. 12 and 15, titled Voices
of Shekhinah, Four Illuminations. Shekhinah
is defined as the female spirit in Judaism, and composer Valarie Morris has
taken this idea as a start, and put together a most fascinating work. The final
result is a creation for large orchestra and four female voices, with an
elaborate text describing the four Jewish women being portrayed. The orchestra
also utilizes additional featured instruments such as the harp, classical
guitar, accordion, a shofar, and a variety of percussion instruments.
The characters of the four historical women include the matriarch, Sarah, and
three others who may not be as familiar to you; one for sure. After the Prologue,
Sarah’s melodies are in the spirit of Biblical and ancient modes. Beruriah
lived in the second century CE, and had the unusual distinction of being a
biblical scholar, and a person to whom Talmudic rabbis approached for advice and
interpretive wisdom of the Torah. As you may imagine, this is even more
remarkable in that in those days, religious study and prayer were totally
relegated to the men.
After
a tuneful Cantors’ Intermezzo, we
hear from Gracia, a Sephardic, and surprisingly, the richest and most powerful
woman in the Middle Ages; she lived from 1510 to 1559. The music uses many modes
in many contexts, and we hear the guitar as a prominent instrument, reflecting
the Ladino-Spanish-Portuguese music of the times. There are also suggestions of
a marching band, a Turkish Ottoman invention, and hints of Klezmer music that
was to follow years later. The last section uses a Hedjaz melody, which might
sound familiar to many. The main melody of Gracia
was a plea to restore the Galilee, then in Northern Palestine.
The
Firzogerinen Interlude depicts women
foreseers and prayer leaders from 1600 to the early 1900s, mostly in Russia and
Poland, and reflects the Hassidic Nigun tradition. It is followed by the last
woman, Lila, the young Jewish woman of
the future. Its Ashkenazic, lilting melodies, and oom-pah-pas are reminiscent of
the Yiddish cultural traditions, and an eye into the future of Jewish women.
Composer Morris interviewed many young women in their teens and adapted their
words and feelings into the text of this movement. The work concludes with all
the four voices singing the Epilogue.
The
four singers portraying the four characters include some of the finest voices in
San Diego: Soprano Anna Branson-Carson, mezzo soprano Sylvia Lorraine Hartman,
contralto Ava Baker Liss, and girl soprano Julienne McWhirter. They will perform
in costumes.
Another
fascinating side to this work is the art work of Viviana Lombrozo. The
distinguished and respected artist has prepared four creations on canvas,
portraying Sarah, Beruriah, Gracia, and Lila, which will be on display at the
concerts and made available for sale. Ms. Lombrozo strongly believes that art
can be a vehicle for investigating and reconstructing a new vision of reality.
Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and is
represented in many collections. Originally from Mexico City, she has taught art
at San Diego State University, and at UCSD.
There
are three other works on this concert, each with its own emotional relevance and
musical value. First, the program begins with the Fanfare for Israel, by the dean of Israeli composers, Paul Ben-Haim.
It continues with a relatively new work, composed from the anguish at the
assassination of Israel’s Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. Simply titled Rabin,
this 10-minute tribute was composed by Ariel Blumenthal, a rising Israeli
composer who is currently writing for film and television in the Los Angeles
area.
Ironically,
Rabin will be performed 10 years after
the death of the fallen leader, practically to the day. This work won the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Competition in 2001, and was performed in Orchestra
Hall. Later it received a performance with the Jerusalem Symphony.
The
second half of the program is dedicated to a single work, the monumental Violin
Concerto in D Major by Beethoven. The soloist will be Ben Dominitz.
Originally from Israel, his musical education includes studies with the
legendary Dorothy Delay at Juilliard, Walter Levin of the LaSalle Quartet at the
University of Cincinnati, and conducting with Maestro Leonard Slatkin. The
latter called Dominitz “one of the few musicians I have met with a fresh
approach to the standard repertory.”
He
presently resides in the Sacramento area, where he teaches, conducts, and
performs solo and chamber music. He is scheduled to conduct five concerts with
the Sacramento Philharmonic.
This
concert will be presented twice. On Saturday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. at the new
sanctuary of Congregation Ner Tamid in Poway, and on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7:30
p.m., in the social hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. This is one of many
events of the coming year that celebrate Tifereth Israel’s 100th
Anniversary.
For more information, ticket reservations, or directions, call Ner Tamid,
858-513 8330, or Tifereth Israel, 619-697 6001.