Contemporary: Jewish Voices
JAMES K. BASS, CONDUCTOR
November 7-10, 2024
Program Note
Contemporary Jewish Music
Dr. Mark Kligman, Director of Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience
This program of Contemporary Jewish Music by Seraphic Fire presents many new works by various composers. Established Jewish folk melodies presented in a contemporary style provide a fresh approach to fuse tradition and innovation are part of this program. Stacey Garrop’s “Lo Yisa Goy” draws upon a melody from her childhood sung in Hebrew. She also includes English words in this work from Micah 3:3-4 to complement the message of not waging war. This is a contemplative tune that sets the texts as a prayer for peace through fusing the old and the new.
The program also includes newly written music such as Guard My Tongue from Speaking (2009) by Julia Wolfe, set to a passage from Psalms 34:14 “Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.” The Jewish concept of Lashon Hara [guarding the evil tongue] is a religious practice to only speak kindly of others. Wolfe’s setting repeats the words “guard my tongue” with a percussive sound in the choir which emphasizes the importance of this Jewish concept.
Also represented in this program is the experience of Jewish Americans as Americans. David Lang’s protect yourself from infection is in memory of the infamous parade during the great Spanish flu epidemic of 1918/1919. Lang wrote this work in 2020 to commemorate the loss of thousands of individuals who against medical advice marched in a parade in Philadelphia on October 12, 1918. David Lang writes that he was named after his father’s cousin Daniel Abraham Leibowitz who at 18 died during the Spanish flu epidemic. In the Jewish tradition naming a child after a deceased relative is a way to acknowledge the life of the deceased. Lang’s composition is not connected to a Jewish text or melody but is connected to the memory of his deceased relative.
The works on this program showcase Contemporary Jewish draws from Jewish texts in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English providing an intimate connection to the Jewish past. Sonically, some composers draw from known melodies allowing for innovation of the past. Other composers express their experiences as Americans who are Jewish. The Jewish encounter in America is deep and significant, these musical works provide an entrée to that experience.
Coming Up at Seraphic Fire
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Celebrate the season with angelic voices in a candlelit setting.
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Vero Beach | West Palm Beach
Renaissance: The Capilla Flamenca
Guest conductor Amanda Quist leads a tribute to a golden age of choral music.
January 16-19, 2025
Boca Raton | Coral Gables | Ft. Lauderdale | Naples
Romantic: Schumann & Mendelssohn
Clara and Robert, Fanny and Felix. Celebrate the diversity of Romantic choral music.
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Classical: Martines, Mozart & Haydn
Hear a modern premiere from Marianna Martines, an overlooked star of the Classical era, and Mozart’s ravishing “Laudate Dominum.”
March 6-9, 2025
Naples | Coral Gables | Ft. Lauderdale | Miami Beach
Baroque: Angels Behind the Walls
Journey back to 18th-century Italy, where captivating music blossomed in convents.
April 10-13, 2025
Boca Raton | Coral Gables | Ft. Lauderdale | Naples
Visit SeraphicFire.org
Call 305.285.9060
Contemporary: Jewish Voices
Thu, Nov 7, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Bet Shira Congregation, Pinecrest
Fri, Nov 8, 2024 | 7:30 pm | All Saints Episcopal, Ft. Lauderdale
Sat, Nov 9, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Beth Sholom, Miami Beach
Sun, Nov 10, 2024 | 4:00 pm | Moorings Presbyterian, Naples
James K. Bass, conductor
Lo Yisa Goy Stacey Garrop (b. 1969)
Jerusalem Kenneth Lampl (b. 1964)
Guard My Tongue
Julia Wolfe (b.1958)
Shirim L’Yom Tov – 4 Festive Songs Shulamit Ran (b.1949)
1.Shiru l’Adonai
2.Yom ha-Shishi
3.Ma Tovu
4.Hatzneia Lechet
Astronaut Anthem
Natural Songs
1.To a Rose
2.Alice of Aspen
protect yourself from infection
Meredith Monk (b. 1942)
Yoni Fogelman (b. 2002)
David Lang (b. 1957) make peace Lang
Dance with S’loyfn, S’yogn
Moira Smiley (b.1976) Stand in that River Smiley
Hava Nagila Garrop
Made possible by Deborah & Michael Troner
Soprano
Julie Bosworth
Chelsea Helm
Jane Long
Addy Sterrett Alto
Doug Dodson
Emily Marvosh
Sylvia Leith
Tenor
Aaron Cates
Andrew Fuchs
Michael Jones Bass
Jared Jones
Daniel Schwartz
Paul Max Tipton
James K. Bass, conductor
To read full artist bios, scan the QR code below or visit SeraphicFire.org/Artists
Lo Yisa Goy
Stacey Garrop (b. 1969)
Lo yisa goy el goy cherev
Lo yilm’du od milchama.
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
V’eyn machrid. Jerusalem
Kenneth Lampl (b. 1964)
Shalom Yerushalayim
Sheket zikhronot khalom.
Shenah, Yerushalayim. Tikvah zorakhat Sheket. Khalom.
Takshivu la’khalom
L’hitorer
Sh’ma Yisrael
Shalvah, Yerushalayim Shalom.
Guard My Tongue
Julia Wolfe (b. 1958)
Guard my tongue from speaking evil, and my lips from speaking deceit.
Shalom Jerusalem. Quiet memories dream. Sleep, Jerusalem. Hope shines, silently. Dream.
Listen to the dream. Wake!
Hear, oh Israel Peace Jerusalem Shalom.
Shirim L’Yom Tov – 4 Festive Songs
Shulamit Ran (b. 1949)
I. Shiru l’Adonai
(Haftorah Bereshit, Isaiah XLII)
Ha’eil Adonai borei hashamayim,
Notein n’shama la’am
Ani Adonai kraticha v’tzedek, l’v’rit am l’or goyim.
Shiru l’Adonai, shir chadash la’Adonai.
Shiru t’hilato mik’tsei ha’aretz, Yor’dei hayam shiru, Hayam um’lo’o iyim v’yosh’veihem, shir chadash t’hilato.
Shiru l’Adonai, shir chadash la’Adonai.
II. Yom ha-Shishi
(Haftorah Bereshit, Genesis I, II)
Vaihi erev, vaihi voker, vayar Elohim kitov.
Vayar Elohim, et kol asher asa, V’hinei tov m’od.
Erev boker yom hashishi, vaihi erev yom hashishi, vayar Elohim kitov.
Vay’chal Elohim bayom hashvi’i, M’lach’to asher asa.
Vayish’bot bayom hashvi’i mikol m’lach’to asher asa.
Vaivarech Elohim et yom hashvi’i
Vaikadeish oto Ki vo shavat mikol m’lach’to.
III. Ma Tovu (Parashat Balak, Numbers XXIV)
Ma tovu ohalecha Ya’akov, Mishk’notecha Yisraeil.
God, our ruler, who created the heavens… Who gave breath unto the people… I, your God, have called thee in righteousness… And made thee a covenant people, a light of the nations…
Sing unto God a new song…
And God’s praise from the end of the earth; You who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof…
Sing unto God a new song.
And there was evening, and there was morning…
And God saw that it was good…
And God saw everything that was made, And, behold, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning on the sixth day.
And God saw that it was good…
And on the seventh day, God completed the work which God had made, and rested on the seventh day from the work of creation.
And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because in it God rested from all the work…
How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel.
IV. Hatzneia Lechet
(Haftorah Balak, Micah VI)
Hatzneia lechet, im elohecha.
Asot mishpat v’ahavat chesed.
O humanity, what is good, and what God requires of you, Only to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Natural Songs
Yoni Fogelman (b. 2002)
Text by Eli Staub (b. 2002)
1. To a Rose
O! Your painful peace!
Your blossom’s beauty only blinds my being,
My eyes are energized, my fingers mourn
For every petal precious I am seeing, You prick me with each ever-vicious thorn!
So hand me all you have, for I can bear another lashing of your thrashing teeth
The leather petals worth for every tear, Long as I dare to be your dazzled thief!
You speak to me with stinging, striking breath,
A freezing warmth that melts my core
With red that burns my skull with gleeful death
Yet with a love no lover’s felt before!
2. Alice of Aspen
O, my one love
Our binding roots are not of flesh, but of the Aspen.
As I walk the winding forest, In the trees, I see you; In the earth, I feel you.
The fire, it tears us down, the brown and green inferno. But love of mine, don’t frown For they don’t know what we know.
The flood, it tears us down, the brown and green submerged. But love of mine, don’t frown, For they don’t know what we’ve heard.
While the trees above may die, Our love may soon diminish, the roots below remain, and reveal in love what’s needed.
We grow, we grow, we grow again
Love weaker, never has been, All thanks to the bond we share, Our bond of the Aspen.
protect yourself from infection
David Lang (b. 1957)
Protect yourself from infection
Keep well and don’t get hysterical
Avoid being sprayed by the nose and throat secretions of others
Beware of those who are coughing or sneezing
Avoid crowded streetcars
Walk to the office if possible
Keep out of crowds
Avoid theaters, moving picture shows and other places of public assembly
Do not travel by railroad unless absolutely necessary
Do not drink from glasses or cups which have been used by others
Unless you are sure they have been thoroughly cleansed
You can do much to lessen the danger to yourself
By keeping in good physical condition
Avoid close, stuffy and poorly ventilated rooms
Insist upon fresh air but avoid disagreeable drafts
Eat simple, nourishing food and drink plenty of water
Secure at least seven hours of sleep
Avoid physical fatigue
Do not sleep or sit around in damp clothing
Keep the feet dry
If you become ill don’t try to keep on with your work
Fight the disease rationally and do not become unduly alarmed
make peace
David Lang (b. 1957)
if you can make peace make peace in the heavens in us
in all the world make peace
Dance with S’loyfn, S’yogn
Moira Smiley (b.1976)
S’loyfn s’yogn shvartse volkn, S’fayft un blozt der vint
Fun sibiryen shikt dayn tate
Dir a grus, mayn kind!
Dark clouds race and rush, the wind whistles and blows. Your father sends greetings from Siberia to you, my child.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Nor der vint, er brengt undz grusn
Fun dem kaltn land; Dortn shteyt er, a lopate Halt er in der hant.
Un er grobt alts tifer, tifer, Varft di erd aroys;
Nit ge zorgt dokhfarn sheker Grobt er kvorim oys.
Stand in that River
Moira Smiley (b.1976)
I went down to my river
But my river was dry. The dust rose up
To a darkened sky. Tell me, where is hope? Where do the waters run clear?
I do not know my way from here.
REFRAIN:
Come and stand in that river, Current gentle and slow! Send your troubles down water, Down on that water flow.
When you stand in that river, Angels sing in your head. Secrets beyond ev’ry worry, Dreams beyond ev’ry dread!
Hava Nagila
Stacey Garrop (b. 1969)
Hava nagila, hava nagila
Hava nagila ve-nis’mecha
Hava neranena, hava neranena
Hava neranena venis’mecha
Uru, uru achim Uru achim belev same’ach.
It is the wind that brings a greeting from that cold land. There your father stands with a shovel in his hand.
And he digs deeper and deepershoveling out the earth. Don’t worry - he’s digging graves for all lies.
Tell me sister, brother, Where does that river flow? It flows down to the great water, Where soon my people will go.
REFRAIN
Oh time passes, Passes on down the stream. Some days are so much sweeter. Some days, some pass like a dark dream, so…
REFRAIN
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
Let us rejoice and be glad
Let us sing, let us sing
Let us sing and be glad
Awaken, awaken brethren Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart.
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Seraphic Fire is sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; the City of Coral Gables; Coral Gables Community Foundation; The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation; Funding Arts Network; Funding Arts Broward; The Kirk Foundation, Peacock Foundation, Inc; Quest Foundation; and Citizens Interested in Arts; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Seraphic Fire is funded by The Children’s Trust. The Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. Programs in Broward County are made possible with the support of the Broward County Cultural Division.