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In This Issue
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Josh Jacobson's Musings
Fall Roundup
Upcoming Concerts
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WATCH ZAMIR'S "HALLELUYOH"
VIRTUAL CHOIR!
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I
n celebration of our 50th season, we created a
first-ever international Jewish virtual choir of Louis Lewandowski's "Halleluyoh."
With 150 participants from all over the world, we hope that this production will inspire and expose countless music lovers to 19th-century German synagogue music, in general, and in particular, the famous German Jewish composer.
Watch
here!
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
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Naomi Gurt Lind, Zamir soprano, filed this "eyewitness report" last fall, which offers you another view of Josh Jacobson's surprise connection with a musician from South Africa at the November 8 Hebrew College event, which he writes about in this issue's "Musings," right.
 The conductor, George Mxadana, and the singers gave a colorful and entertaining illumination of various cultural groups in the region. During the question-and-answer session, Josh Jacobson asked about choral repertoire. Suddenly, Mxadana's face lit up. "Jacobson?" he said, as he made his way over to Josh for a bear hug. Though the two had never met, Mxadana explained, he had long been an admirer of Josh and of the Zamir Chorale. He spoke of some of the songs he most likes, like "Enosh" and "Adon Olam," and of how he has performed several of these with his chorus. He spoke of the importance of Jewish music in world choral repertoire and of how influential Josh's work has been for him.
Witnessing this emotional meeting of two like spirits who had never met was something to behold! And how amazing to see that Zamir has succeeded in its mission of spreading the depth and breadth of Jewish choral music, halfway around the world, with such beautiful results.
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50th-ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI EVENTS
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Their Voices Live On:
A Memorial Gathering
Sunday, March 17, 2019, 4:00-6:00 pm, Temple Beth Sholom, 50 Pamela Rd., Framingham:
Join us for this tribute to our beloved Zamirniks who are no longer with us.
Through song and stories, we'll recall the joys that we shared with them and their dedication to Zamir. And of course, we'll have time to schmooze and have a light snack. A brief slideshow is planned, so if you have any great photos of the folks we are remembering, please email them to
johanna@herworkplace.com
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Alumni Reunion and Luncheon Honoring Ronda Jacobson
Sunday, June 2, 12:30 pm, Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton:
T
his luncheon event will honor Zamir's "first lady,"Ronda Jacobson, who has been in and around Zamir for its entire history (serving in multiple capacities). Expect delicious food, great reminiscing about Ronda and our years in Zamir, a display of photos, and lots of nostalgia about the "good old days."
That evening, depending on the level of interest, we will continue the festivities with a beautiful sunset cruise in Boston Harbor! A light dinner will be served. Come sing and socialize under the stars with old and new friends to toast our 50th!
Details will be updated on the alumni page on our website.
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PHOTOS FROM ZAMIR'S
50th-ANNIVERSARY
KICKOFF RECEPTION
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| Michael and Joyce Bohnen, Co-chairs, Zamir@50 |
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Cantors Louise Treitman and
Peter Halpern
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Sopranos Jessica Woolf, Betty Bauman,
Maayan Harel
Photos by Mickey Goldin
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Happy 2019! We hope you had a restful, joyful, and harmonious autumn. Our 50th-anniversary season events are in full swing, with much more to come. Read here about our fall concerts; a surprising and uplifting meeting between Josh Jacobson and conductor George Mxadana, of South Africa; our October Cabaret Reception; and details about upcoming activities, including the capstone event of this jubilee year, our June 4 concert at Sanders Theatre.
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JOSH JACOBSON'S MUSINGS
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In each issue of E-Notes, Artistic Director Joshua Jacobson offers his unique insights and experiences as a world-renowned scholar, composer, conductor, and influential teacher of Jewish music.
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Photo by Andy Weigl |
It's strange. I've had conversations with leaders of Boston's Jewish community who have never heard of the Zamir Chorale of Boston. And what makes that so strange is the fact that, through our recordings, our performances, and our website, Zamir actually enjoys an international reputation.
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Baruch Brothers Choir, Belgrade
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A few years ago, when I was teaching at the Louis Lewandowski Choral Festival in Berlin, Germany, Micha, a singer from Amsterdam, approached me to say that he had heard Zamir on the radio years ago. He was so impressed with the music that he searched for us on the web and ordered all of our CDs. At that same festival, I also met Mila, who sings in the Baruch Brothers Choir in Belgrade. With great enthusiasm, she told me that for several decades her choir has been enjoying singing Zamir's music.
Last June, I was in Sydney, Australia, to conduct at their Jewish Choral Festival. They had arranged for me to do an interview with Nitza Lowenstein on SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) Radio. Imagine my delight when Nitza informed me that she had a collection of Zamir CDs and played them all the time on her program.
But the biggest surprise came
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Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society
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a few months ago. The Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society from South Africa was on tour in Boston and Hebrew College's School of Jewish Music was sponsoring a workshop and a concert. Toward the end of the workshop, their conductor, George Mxadana, looked at me (I was in the audience) and asked, "Are you Josh Jacobson?" After I confessed, he proceeded to shower me with accolades. He is a big fan of Zamir and said he enjoys our recordings. And in particular he mentioned that his choir has included in their repertoire synagogue music of Louis Lewandowski, modeled after Zamir's interpretations. We had an awesome hug.
Okay, Boston. Now it's your turn.
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UPCOMING CONCERTS AND EVENTS
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Sunday, February 24, 2019, 4:00 pm, Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford, CT: Zamir is pleased to return to our neighbors to the southwest to present an afternoon concert featuring Zamir's celebrated "mix" of musical styles and periods. Zamir delights in broadening audiences' understanding of what is "Jewish music."
The Charter Oak Cultural Center, housed in Connecticut's oldest synagogue building, is a nonprofit, multicultural arts center committed to giving access to the arts to all people and doing the work of social justice. For info, charteroakcenter.org.
Sunday, March 24, 2:00 pm, Museum of African American History, 46 Joy St, Boston:
Join us for the third annual "Voices of Freedom" concert! Zamir will perform along with
VOICES 21C,
a diverse choir dedicated to positive interactions, social justice, and global understanding; and the Boston Community Gospel Choir. Each group will perform individually and then come together for a special set of music with a theme of freedom and justice, aimed at transcending cultures and forging common bonds. Presented in partnership with the Museum of African American History and the Consulate General of Israel to New England. For info,
vilnashul.org
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Wednesday, May 15, 7:30-9:30 pm, Hebrew College, 160 Herrick Rd, Newton: Symposium on Ethnic Identity and Choral Singing. The Zamir Chorale of Boston and Hebrew College's School of Jewish Music will present a roundtable panel discussion exploring issues related to ethnic identity and choral singing. The participants--representing Jewish, African-American, Hispanic, Greek, and Arab traditions--will discuss a number of challenges as well as benefits for a chorus that specializes in music from a single ethnic tradition. Free admission. For details and to register, click here.
Tuesday, June 4, 7:30 pm, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge: A Gala Golden
Anniversary Concert
. Capping off this jubilee season, Zamir presents a gala concert to honor our founder and artistic director, and to celebrate the very best in Jewish choral music over the centuries. The chorus will be premiering six new works, by composers
Klarman, Lampl, Leshnoff, Osborne, Page, and Schiller,
commissioned for the occasion
. A
lumni will join the group for a performance of favorite selections from Zamir's five decades of repertoire. Complete program and ticket information will appear in our Spring E-Notes, as well as information about alumni events on the weekend before the concert.
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FALL ROUNDUP
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28th-Annual "Hanukkah Happens" at Temple Emanuel
On December 24, Zamir was thrilled to present its annual holiday extravaganza at Temple Emanuel, with
host and soloist Hazzan Elias Rosemberg. The program featured a fabulous "best of liturgical music" selection from the past 100 years, from Israel Goldfarb's "Sholom Aleichem," written in 1918 (yes, that "Sholom Aleichem"); to Klarman's "Hodu"; and Sussman's "Yihyu Leratson," written 100 years later. The program also included works by Davidson, Lampl, Gottlieb, Janowski, Helfman, Isaacson, and Bloch. A tribute to Leonard Bernstein included the revival of "Un'saneh Tokef" in an oratorio-like setting by Prof. Solomon Braslavsky, whom Bernstein acknowledged as his first great musical influence. Cantor Rosemberg and the chorus received an extended ovation for their performance of this dramatic work. Many thanks to the Temple Emanuel Music Committee for hosting.
"A Light Through the Ages" at Central Reform Temple
On December 2, Zamir returned for another favorite tradition, a performance of the cantata "A Light Through the Ages," an annual Hanukkah celebration held at the Central Reform Temple in Boston. The event was created by Rabbi Howard Berman and recounts the story of the Maccabees. At the end, the audience participated in a candle-lighting ceremony, which illuminated the beautiful sanctuary at CRT's home, Emmanuel Church in the Back Bay.
Duxbury's First Parish Church Features Organ Music
On November 4, Zamir traveled to Duxbury, Mass., to the First Parish Unitarian Universalist, the home church of our
longtime accompanist, Edwin Swanborn. This special program featured Ed playing the church's newly refurbished pipe organ. Choral and organ selections included works by Rossi, Lewandowski, and Vaughan Williams; instrumental offerings included works by Bach; and Gabrieli, with a brass ensemble.
Temple Reyim Hosts a "Synagig"
On October 21, Zamir performed to an enthusiastic audience at Temple Reyim in Newton. The full-length concert featured works from across the centuries and around the world, including the first of our year-long tribute sets in honor of Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday and the State of Israel's 70th, as well as liturgical works from Salamone Rossi to Louis Lewandowski to Kurt Weill.
50th Kickoff Reception at Newton City Hall
On October 11, Zamir hosted a festive reception at Newton City Hall's War Memorial Auditorium to kick off its 50th season (see photos on left and on Zamir's photo gallery). Over
150 friends and supporters of Zamir were treated to a short choral performance and a season preview. The highlight of this festive evening was the premiere of the "Halleluyoh Virtual Choir" video, featuring 150 singers from around the world singing Lewandowski's masterpiece. What a way to start our golden anniversary year! Thanks to committee members Susie Jacobs, chair, Joyce Bohnen, Frumie Burns, and Sheri Olans.
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KEEP IN TOUCH!
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As always, let us know what you're up to--we love hearing from our friends from around the world. Stay well, stay warm, and have a happy and peaceful winter season. See you in the spring!
Barbara Gaffin Deborah Sosin
Managing Director Editor, E-Notes
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