Last night I ran aross “A Song of Comfort,” a motet I wrote many years ago at a time of personal affliction. I hope it might give comfort to some who are suffering much more today than I was then. The piece is No. 4 of my a cappella cantata, “Songs of Wisdom,” which can be found on my website under “CHORAL: Extended Works/Sacred and Christmas” in a fine performance by Schola Cantorum. The text is from the Books of Ezekiel and Isaiah, and follows a recitative from Ecclesiastes which ends with these words: “Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished.” The text, in part: “Thus saith the Lord: Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears. . . . I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. As one whose mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. . . . In a wrath I hid my face from you. But I will gather thee with everlasting kindness. . . .”
News and Notices
Zimriya 2020 – The Sacred & Profane choral festival ***Postponed***
Old Acre, Israel
The Zimriya is the most important festival of choirs in Israel with hundreds of singers participating every year in workshops and concerts of choral music. Members of choirs from Israel and abroad spend 4 days during which they study new works with internationally renowned choral conductors who contribute their skills and time to the Zimriya. All concerts are open to the public.
Initiated by A. Z. Propes in 1952, the Zimryia is celebrating 68 years of activity. It will hold one of the biggest and most important musical & cultural events in 2020, in the subterranean Crusaders Knights’ Halls and open spaces, in the spectacular old historic town of Acre, a world heritage city: www.akko.org.il/en
Workshops of Liturgical music, Between Sacred & Profane, led by renowned conductors, as well as unique evening concerts and ‘Choir to Choir’ performances, will be held day and night throughout the festival; ‘Open Stage Performances’ of choirs, Singing Groups and Ensembles will take place in the pathways of the magnificent Knights’ Halls.
The Festive Opening Concert, Celebrating 20th Anniversary of MILA – Israeli Center for Culture & Vocal Music – Sunday, June 21, at 20:30, in the Knights’ Halls in Old Acre. More than 1,000 singer will participate!
Meeting of Hearts – Israel, France and Turkey on stage – June 22, at 20:30, a special concert with Musician Yinon Mualem and his band and conductor Jua Amir and “Singing Earth Divine” choir, from France.
The magnificent Closing Concert, with the Golden Gate Quartet – Wednesday, June 24, at 20:30
in the Citadel Courtyard.
Night concerts: will be held every night in the Knights’ Halls, in the Citadel Courtyard
Open Stage: choirs, ensembles and singing group’s performances
‘Choir to Choir’ performances: daily in the subterranean Crusaders Knights’ Halls.
Night Celebration with Wine & Beer: Singing and dancing into the night Alternating Daily
Workshops, Masterclasses and Artists Meetings
Meeting The Golden Gate
Haled Abu Ali – Sufi Ritual Dance
LOLIK – Ladino songs Zoli Frank – Hassidic songs
Rami Barber, Israel – Hebrew Psalms in European Baroque
Mati Lazar, USA – Sacred Jewish Psalms
Yair Klinger – French Chansons in Hebrew cover
Jeanne Rabin – Get the Groove
Dominique Clerence, France – When Gospel meets Hebrew songs
Nizar Elkahter – Sacred Music in Islam, Arab & Jewish
Boaz Kabilio – Vilenski & Argov – 110 Anniversary
Avi Faintoch – David Zehavi – 110 Anniversary
Pnina Inbar – Israeli Songs – arrangement
A special ongoing workshop by conductor Zoli Frank, Israel: Scared & Profane – Between Levandovski & Rossi
General Information:
• Participation is open to all choirs and ensembles, including children and youth choirs.
• Participants must be over 14 years old
• Participation is subject to the confirmation of the Music Committee of the Zimriya.
• The Zimriya workshops will take place mainly in the Knights Hall – Old Acre.
• Participants will be accommodated in Ha’Abirim Guest House
• Every room is air-conditioned and has a bathroom. Beddings and towels are supplied.
Price without accommodation, including all activities: € 240
Accommodations on BB basis at Ha’Abirim Guest House:
€ 665 – in a double room
€ 585 – in a triple room
€ 515 – in a quadruple room
Prices include:
• 4 nights lodging in air-conditioned rooms on BB Basis
• Participation in workshops
• Admission to all concerts, workshops, masterclasses etc.
• Each choir will have a chance to perform at least once during the Zimriya
Last date of registration: 30.03.2020
10% Discount will be given to registration before 15.03.2020
Important The number of the rooms in the Ha’Abirim Guest House is limited.
For more information and registration form:
The Sacred & Profane Zimriya
Tel: +972-3-6041808
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Subject to Change
Votes for Women Consortium – Deadline March 31
Chorosynthesis is committed to giving our singers inspiration, hope, and light at the end of the tunnel through bold and significant programming, including works like AMENDMENT, Righting Our Wrongs by Melissa Dunphy and Kala Pierson. We are firmly resolved in not allowing the current circumstances to get in the way of or dictate our celebration throughout 2020 of women’s suffrage in the United States and the importance of the right to vote as a form of the truest freedom.
Will you join us?
-Short work under 20 minutes – can be added to anyone’s existing program
-Accessible for almost any SATB choir (minimal divisi) with cello
-Composed by Melissa Dunphy & Kala Pierson (and a world-class team of text curators)
-Texts and music by women, composed for women’s rights
-2020 is the centennial of 19th Amendment (women’s suffrage)
-$1,000 co-commission fee plus $50 processing fee
If you are interested but are unsure of the financial situation of your chorus due to the pandemic, please contact us.
To see libretto and to sign up visit www.chorosynthesis.org/votesforwomen
More info: https://youtu.be/-2LNOBU7LA8
The Zimriya festival is postponed
Chor Leoni announces weekly livestream – Chor Leoni Inside – premiering April 1 @ 7pm PST
(Vancouver, BC) Vancouver’s JUNO-nominated Chor Leoni is inviting audiences far and wide to tune in on Wednesday evenings for Chor Leoni Inside, the choir’s new livestream show premiering April 1st (7:00pm PST) on Facebook and YouTube.
Hosted by Chor Leoni’s Artistic Director Erick Lichte, Chor Leoni Inside features high-quality concert videos from the past seven years of Chor Leoni concerts, plus new video content from the choir’s albums paired with artwork from local visual artists.
“The goal is to use the format and informality of a podcast with the timeliness of a live TV show, to give the show some regularity of broadcast and a sense of occasion, like our concerts, which are now impossible to do,” explains Lichte.
The show will also feature a local or internationally recognized music luminary. For April 1st the guest is conductor Ethan Sperry talking about Translations, his new recording of the works of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ on the Naxos label. The first video from the album, Ešenvalds’ In Paradisum, will be premiered to artwork by renowned Vancouver artist Tiko Kerr.
“I believe that choral music has a unique healing quality, it can offer serenity, beauty and can engage with people in ways even I don’t understand,” says Lichte. “We want to pair the power of choral music with the fun of an at-home show, in a way that is very Chor Leoni.
Choral music is, for me, the ultimate way in which people can come together with our voices and our souls. This show won’t replace the community we share as a choir and with our audience, but hopefully it will move us from our current reality to the day we can again bring our voices together and they can be heard.”
The Chor Leoni Inside livestream offers an opportunity to join the virtual viewing party and interact with other audience members online, or just enjoy a curated selection of choral music every Wednesday at 7:00pm PST.
Chor Leoni Inside
Premiering April 1, 2020
Wednesdays @ 7:00pm PST
Facebook: chorleoni
YouTube: chorleoni
Transforming Your Chorus’s Live Fundraising Event into a Virtual Event
Canceling concerts and losing ticket sales revenue during COVID-19 isn’t the only concern choruses have. Many choruses have also had to cancel their fundraising events, losing out on another category of essential revenue to sustain their organizations.
For choruses considering canceling or postponing your event, remember that there is a third option available: virtualizing the event.
By moving your event online, you’ll still be able to engage your donors, keep your staff working, and bring in funding for the organization during this critical time.