Regina Resnik Presents: Covert or Convert?

Sunday, April 2, 2:30 PM

Regina Resnik Presents: Covert or Convert?
A Powerful Expression of the Jewish Spirit

Regina Resnik, narrator; Darynn Zimmer, soprano; Michael Philip Davis, tenor; Charles Robert Stephens, baritone; Vlad Iftinca, piano

This unique program features the work of Felix Mendelssohn and Anton Rubinstein, converts to Christianity, and Otto Klemperer, a convert back to Judaism, along with unheralded Jewish composers who wrote covertly during the Inquisition, under Communism, and in the Holocaust. Works by Aldo Finzi, Pavel Haas, Mieczyslaw Weinberg and others will have their premieres in the Museum's Edmond J. Safra Hall. All of them are powerful expressions of the Jewish spirit. Presented and narrated by opera legend Regina Resnik.
$20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 members/students
Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
t. 646.437.4337 f. 646.437.4341
Visit our website at: www.mjhnyc.org

Regina Resnik has had an opera career spanning more than 60 years and more than 80 roles in the great international opera houses. She became famous for roles such as Carmen and Mistress Quickly. In 1987, Regina Resnik made her musical theater debut as Fraülein Schneider in Cabaret with Joel Grey, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Since 1997, she has been the host and narrator of the concert series "Regina Resnik Presents" - which she co-founded and co-produces with her son, tenor and stage director, Michael Philip Davis. The series has become an important presence in New York musical life, having offered such diverse programs as "Beethoven in Song," "The Gypsy in Classical Song," and "The Classic Kurt Weill"

International Celebration of Jewish Music at Alice Tully Hall

Chabad's Children of Chernobyl
In association with the American Society for the Advancement of Cantorial Arts. Inc.
Proudly Presents
An International Celebration of Jewish Music

The Celebrated Voices of... A New Cantorial Generation ...

David Weinbach - Tel Aviv, Israel
Yaakov Stark - Cong. Orach Chayim, NY
Netanel Hershtik- The Hampton Synagogue
Tzadok Greenwald - Jerusalem, Israel
Maestro Matthew Lazar
Music Director

The inspirational 70 voices from
The Moscow Male Jewish Hasidic Capella Choir Conducted by: Sasha Tsaliuk
The New York Synagogue Choir Conducted by: Itzchak Haimov
The Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute Conducted by: Naftali Hershtik
Accompanied by: The ASACA Chamber Orchestra
An exclusive concert at the Alice Tully Hall,
Lincoln Center
Thursday Evening, March 30, 2006
7:30 PM
Tickets: $500, $360, $100, $50
Separate Seating available
Tickets may be purchased through CenterCharge: 212-721-6500
For sponsorships and VIP seating call the CCOC Office: 212-681-7800
For tickets go to www.ccoc.net
Venue: Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center - NYC
About the work of Chabad's Children of Chernobyl: http://ccoc.net/sub_pages/about.shtml

Shapira and Shapira Perform Brahms at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall

Renowned cellist Benjamin Shapira will joined by pianist Shulamith Shapira performing the two Brahms cello sonatas at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall on March 16th, 8:00 pm. B. Shapira's talent was recognized at a very early age. He was quickly embraced by America Israel Cultural Foundation, and was selected by Isaac Stern to join a small group of outstanding young protégé artists at the Jerusalem Music Center. Shapira's international career was launched after his celebrated Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall performance of the Complete Bach Suites for Cello Solo. Since, Shapira is in constant demand as a soloist, performing all over the United States and abroad. His recent years' US performances include concerts in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Texas, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. Shapira frequently performs internationally as well, touring Europe, South America and Israel.

Tickets can be purchase at CarnegieCharge at: 212-247-7800 or by calling Taltal productions at: 1-888-432-3556. Tickets are $25 and $12 for students and senior citizens. The Brahms Cello Sonatas Celebrated in Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall

The concert provides a rare opportunity for NY music lovers to explore both cello sonatas side by side. Considered by most as corner stones of the cello repertoire, the two Brahms cello sonatas reflect, each in its own way, that distinct style, which made Brahms' music so eternally powerful in the eyes of music lovers: always romantic, potent and rich, yet classicist and intellectually intricate in form and detail. "The E Minor sonata is one of my favorite works in the entire cello repertoire" says Shapira. "It is a tragic work, which makes an extraordinary use of the entire wide emotional range the cello can offer, making special use of the deep, bass qualities of the instrument. It is a magnificent, monumental work" he exclaims. The F major sonata opus 99 belongs to a much later period of Brahms's life. "The F Major sonata provides such a contrast to the dark E Minor" says Shapira "it is a passionate work, almost violent at times, but always seems to maintain a very optimistic approach, full of youthful energy" he concludes.

Highly praised by critics, Shapira was compared with the great Catalonian cellist Pablo Casals. "Shapira's admirable accounts [of the Bach Suites] might be aptly described as 'Modified Casals'," says critic Harris Goldsmith in a review published by the New York Concert Review "Shapira is, like his great Catalonian forebear, a romantic with brains". The Agence France Presse dubs Shapira as "A Soloist of International Stature"; the New Jersey Herald calls him as "a passionate performer".

Klezmer for Brass and Wood

A producer in Switzerland is making arrangements of klezmer music for symphonic wind orchestras, or for brass or woodwind ensembles. He offers other services as well. Samples of the work are online. Those interested in obtaining arrangements or those who are arrangers may be interested in looking at this website:
Jack Musik
CH-6354 Vitznau (Switzerland)
jackmusik@jackmusik.ch www.jackmusik.ch und www.klezmer.ch

YIDDISH FEVER from YIDDISH EXPRESS

Mendy CAHAN & der YIDDISH EXPRESS
proudly presents
YIDDISH FEVER
new CD release
www.yiddishexpress.com

UPCOMING CONCERTS
THU February 23, 2006 8PM 40 NIS sold out
THU March 2, 2006 8PM 40 NIS
Beth Shalom Aleikhem
Rehov Berkowitz 4
Tel Aviv
Reservations 03/6956513

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo Dead at 92

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo z"l died February 21 at around 3am. He had been hospitalized for several days with breathing difficulties. Abraham Lopes Cardozo was born in Amsterdam, Holland on September 27, 1914. He was the great-grandson of the Chief Rabbi in Amsterdam and the son of the choir director of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue there. He came to his American post in 1946 and served Congregation Shearith Israel in New York for over 40 years. Cardozo's recordings from 1959 were recently rereleased in time for the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jews in America, and reviewed by this website: http://www.jmwc.org/NewCDReviews/shearithisraelcds.html

He was a made a Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau by Queen Beatrix of Holland on June 7, 2000. Two years ago the Chazzan celebrated his 90th birthday in Amsterdam. A special tribute program was shown on Dutch television.

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo
From the Finding Aid at the American Sephardic Federation, Center for Jewish History Created by Randall C. Belinfante

"Abraham Lopes Cardozo was born in Amsterdam, Holland on September 27, 1914. As the great-grandson of the Chief Rabbi of the Sephardim in Amsterdam (who preached the last sermon in Portuguese, and who was later decorated by the King of Holland), and as the son of Joseph Lopes Cardozo, leader of the boy's choir of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, it was fitting that he read his first Haftorah at the age of seven in that same synagogue. He attended Seminary Ets Haim in Amsterdam , and became active in Hagomel, a congregational youth society. In 1939 he was appointed by Queen Wilhemina to be rabbi of the Sephardic congregation in Paramaribo, capital of Surinam. On vacation in New York in 1945 he visited Congregation Shearith Israel in NYC and he liked it. It was mutual, for he was invited by the Congregation to become the Assistant Hazzan there in 1946, a position he held for forty years. In 1987, he released a book and accompanying cassette tapes entitled: Sephardic Songs of Praise. On June 7, 2000, he was knighted by Queen Beatrix of Holland. "

http://www.cjh.org/academic/findingaids/asf/ncprc/LopesCardozoFamily.html

Miriam's Drum

A new CD, Miriam's Drum has been released with all original new songs by Tziona Achishena Zilbershtein. This recording, intended for women, features a diverse group of musicians performing on everything from traditional oud to Indian tablas, tampura, bendir, bowls, flutes, harmonium and drums. A children's choir also appears as well as women's vocals. Most of the texts come from Psalms, or prayerbook liturgy, yet the settings are new and spirited. Tziona is a 'mulit-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, riq (a Middle Eastern tambourine), harmonium, and the Persian santur.' Recordings can be purchased directly through the artist at: Tziona Zilbershtein Ohr HaGanuz, D.N. Merom HaGalil, ISRAEL 13909. For more information, visit: http://www.koltziona.com/
Originally from the US, Tsiona's diverse background includes "intensive studies of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, Traditional dance in Indonesia, Tai Chi, Western vocal training, Persian classical singing, and creative writing, through a lens of Torah and Mitzvot." She has three other albums: Aleynu –2004; "Shema" Hebrew Chant –1999 Two Disc Set ; and The Future –1996.

Female songwriters needed

A Chasidic female recording artist, Chana Fellig, is putting together a CD compilation of Jewish female songwriters. She's interested in hearing from women and girls who write original songs or "who has dreamed of being a singer, who writes songs, plays an instrument, composes melodies etc. The songs can be a collaboration of a few talents." If you are interested in submitting a song to her, please email her directly at chanale@hotmail.com

Irving Fine - An American Composer in His Time

A new book about Irving Fine, by Phillip Ramey was published a few months ago by Pendragon Press. Fine was the Brandeis University composer who founded the Music Department and began the landmark performing arts festival at Brandeis. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Richard Wernick, who studied under Fine at Brandeis, wrote the Forward. This book is being published by Pendragon Press in association with The Library of Congress. ISBN: 978-1-57647-116-0 It's part of the Lives in Music Series No. 8 called Irving Fine - An American Composer in His Time

Cantorial school concert at Jewish Theological Seminary

Date: Sunday night March 12, 2006
Time: 7:00pm
Where: JTS Feinberg Auditorium
Jewish Theological Seminary
Broadway at 122nd Street, NYC
Tickets are $7 for students; and $15 for anyone else.
There will be a wide variety of music performed by over half of the students of the HL Miller Cantorial School.
For ticket info, contact either Sara Horowitz or Rebecca Carl at sahorowitz@jtsa.edu, or recarl@jtsa.edu
This is a tsedakah concert.

Yiddish Summer Program at Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv, Israel
July 3 – 28, 2006
A vibrant new Summer Program in Yiddish language and culture is now available at Tel Aviv University. Under the auspices of Beth Shalom Aleichem, The Goldreich Family Institute for Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture at Tel Aviv University and the Abraham Lerner Fund, this four-week program during the month of July 2006, offers intensive Yiddish instruction on campus at the beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels, and a rich afternoon program of lectures, tours, theatre, concerts, museums, films, and cultural events organized by YUNG YiDiSH in conjunction with Beth Shalom Aleichem. As students of the Lowy School for Overseas Students at Tel Aviv University whose credentials are recognized by universities world-wide, participants will receive 80 hours of language instruction (four credits) with highly qualified and experienced teachers in small classes and will be housed in dormitories adjacent to the campus. Language instruction will be supplemented by lectures given by leading scholars in the fields of Yiddish language, literature, and culture.

Located in the largest and most vibrant city in Israel, Tel Aviv University is within walking distance of the beaches and the promenade that stretches from Ramat Aviv to Jaffa, the Land of Israel Museum and the Museum of the Diaspora (Beit Hatefusoth, with its resources for genealogy research) , as well as cafes, restaurants, and shops. The Summer Session's cultural program will include meetings with Yiddish writers and personalities, workshops, theatre, poetry and literature evenings, klezmer music, field trips, films and more. During leisure hours, Tel Aviv offers Bauhaus architecture, cafes and clubs at the old harbor, the open air markets, summer street festivals, and the charm of old Jaffa with its artist colony. The cost of the program is $1200 for tuition, $600 for housing, and a $60 registration fee. www.telavivuniv.org/programs/summer.htm A significant number of scholarships are available for deserving students. See the website for more information or write to Tamar Gerstenhaber, the summer program Coordinator, at tlvsummer@yiddish.co.il

ALHAMBRA at the Cornelia Street Cafe

ALHAMBRA, a group performing Sephardic music, will be at the Cornelia Street Cafe from 8:30 to 11:00 PM
Thursday 16 March 2006
29 Cornelia Street between 4th & Bleeckerjust west of Sixth Avenue
Admission: $10.

ALHAMBRA plays the rhythmic and hauntingly beautiful Sephardic music of the Middle East, which melds the words and melodies of 15th century Spain, filtered through Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and Arabic lands. ALHAMBRA was founded in 1981 by its director and lead singer Dr Isabelle Ganz who is a professor of music, a cantorial soloist, a conductor, and an international performer and recording artist. She is joined by four other equally skilled professionals for whom Sephardic music is a special love. Haig Manoukian is considered one of the world’s finest players of the oud – the fretless ancestor of our modern lute. Michael Hess, heard throughout New York playing klezmer music, performs on violin, kanun (trapezoidal zither), riq (tambourine) and nay (bamboo flute). Cantor Daniel Pincus is a tenor whose repertoire extends to Bach, Schubert, and Salamone Rossi. Peter Basil Bogdanos is a percussionist who performs and records, playing a broad repertoire ranging from pop, jazz, R&B, to Middle-Eastern and Flamenco.

Shoshana Damari dies in Tel Aviv

Shoshana Damari, with a completely distinctive voice, and a career as one of Israel's favorite singers, died on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at a hospital in Israel from pneumonia. She was 83. Damari was called by Haaretz newspaper as the "Queen of Israeli Song" , others the "diva of popular song". Damari was born in Yemen, in the city of Damar, migrating with her family to Israel in 1924. She was a child prodigy and sang at many functions in her community. As a young teenager, she went to seek her career in Tel Aviv, landing a job at the Li-La-Lo Theater and becoming a permanent cast member. One of her solo numbers was by Shlomo Wilenski, called "Kalaniot" (Anemones) and it became her signature song. The hospital reported that this song was played for her minutes before her death with friends and family singing along. Damari's songs became identified with the Israel War of Independence of 1948. She was widely honored and beloved in Israel, winning the Israel Prize in 1988. This musician will be buried with a state funeral. Read Israel newspapers about it: http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/682676.html And the Jewish Agency biography: http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Eye+on+Israel/Gallery+of+People+%28Biographies%29/Damari+Shoshana.htm

Her death marks yet another of the founding generation's passing in recent years along with Uzi Hitman (Chitman), Naomi Shemer, and Ehud Manor.

Shalom Eitan has a biography of his escape from the Holocaust and arrival in Israel. While in a British detention camp on Cyprus, around 1947-48, Shoshana Damari came to sing. Here's a small, but poignant quote from that article that gives a glimpse of the power Damari had the meaning of her work to that generation:

"Life in the camp began to fill with meaning. The course, my job, the cultural life which was expanding, soccer, volleyball and the like. Even a Yiddish theatre came into existence. We were in a detainment camp but it was more like a vacation camp. There were parties and weddings. Children were born and there was no worry about supporting them. Everything, except for the inability to reach Israel, was OK One of the most moving events was the performance of Shoshana Damari. Every detainee in the summer camp gathered on the soccer field where a stage had been built in the centre. On the stage stood a beautiful, dark-skinned woman like those seen only rarely in Europe. Very tanned with wonderful black hair; but most of all, the voice. Her songs electrified us and even though her accompanist did not manage to work the accordion, which apparently had been damaged during its travels. She hypnotised us with her songs and gave a complex to anyone who thought he or she knew how to speak Hebrew.

I was educated speaking Hebrew with Sephardic style and even so, it was the first time I heard authentic Hebrew. I didn't even know there were Ashkenasi Jews and Sephardic Jews until I reached Bucharest. There I learned that the Sephardic Jews were the elite of the people and they descended directly from King David's kingdom and after the destruction of the second temple, were deported or compelled by circumstances to leave their home land to the Diaspora then lived a flourishing period in Spain until the expulsion by and during the Spanish Inquisition.

In Cyprus, I met Jews from Morocco and Shoshana Damari exemplified the Jews in Israel. Only later did I learn that she was from Yemen. The melodies of her songs accompanied me for years to come and even though I have heard her sing tens, if not hundreds of times, her songs still remind me of that unforgettable experience in Cyprus. In the television show, "This Is Your Life," I heard her say that the most emotional event in her long, rich career was "the performance she gave, the songs she sang before the refugees in Cyprus." How very true! " To read Eitan's full article go to the JewishGen website: http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/lipkany/lipkany.html#TOC and click on "Survive and Tell"

Shoshana Damari in Cyprus at British Camp of Jewish Detainees circa 1947.

Photo credit: Shalom Eitan from JewishGen.

Zemlinsky Songs Get Some Well Deserved Attention

Alexander Zemlinsky is one of those 'lesser known' composers who fled Nazi Germany for the US in the 1930s. Recently there has been a sort of revival of sorts with a book by Anthony Beaumont a few years ago, several concert series about Austrian 'emigre' composers, and a CD set of Songs of Zemlinsky sung by Hermine Haselbock.To hear samples, go to Haselboeck's site and click on "Zemlinsky CD".
Songs by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Hermine Haselböck, /Mezzosoprano
Florian Henschel,/Piano
PAN CLASSICS (PC 10162)
www.panclassics.com

Wings: Songs of the Jewish Heart

Valeria Fubini Ventura, voice, Anna Barbero, piano, have released a CD of classical Israeli music on the Italian label http://www.ludomentis.it/eng/chi_eng.htmlLudomentis. Recorded in the Church of S. Apollinare in Monticello di Lonigo (VI) near Vicenza, the recording has a collection of Israeli composers whose "musical horizon is tied to European national school of the end of the nineteenth century." Also included are selections by Ravel and Milhaud.

Klezmer & African Drumming Extravaganza at The Tank

March 16, 2006, 10pm
Aaron Alexander’s Midrash Mish Mosh with Senegalese Sabar masters Yakar Rhythms

A World-Jazz Extravaganza is coming to The Tank on March 16, 2006 at 10pm, featuring Aaron Alexander's Midrash Mish Mosh and Senegalese Sabar drum masters Yakar Rhythms, featuring Aliounne 'Guido' Faye. Special guest on Midrash Mish Mosh is drummer David Licht from the Klezmatics! Both bands will play separately and then collaborate on a couple tunes at the end. Alexander previously produced and a collaboration with Yakar rhythms and Hasidic New Wave which resulted in the CD "Belly of Abraham" for Knitting Factory records.

The Tank is Located at 279 Church St. (bet. Franklin & White), in Tribeca, in NYC. www.thetanknyc.com The Tank @ Collective: Unconscious is located at 279 Church Street between Franklin and White. To get to The Tank by subway take: A, C, E, J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, Z, or 6 to Canal Street or 1, 9 to Franklin Street
By Phone: 212.563.6269 By Email: info@thetanknyc.org

Aaron Alexander’s Midrash Mish Mosh brings together original klezmer with electric instruments, free jazz, balkan rhythms and thrash punk. Their record on the Tzadik label has received acclaim from critics in the klezmer world and the modern jazz world. The band features some of the top players in the New York klezmer and jazz scenes. The band at The Tank will be: Aaron Alexander & David Licht - drums, Greg Wall- saxophone, Alex Kontorovich – clarinet, Frank London – trumpet, Curtis Hasselbring – trombone, Jay Vilnai – guitar, David Richards - bass.
Yakar Rhythms: This dynamic and energetic drum troupe hails from Senegal, West Africa via NYC. Leader Alioune Faye is a master drummer of the Sing Sing Faye family of Sengalese griots. Their repertoire draws on the rich griot and Sabar drumming traditions, which are passed down through families from one generation to the next. For more info on this event, contact Aaron Alexander at (646) 414-2326, email a@aaronalexander.com www.aaronalexander.com

"Shalom Comrade" CD Released by Schott Wergo

Schott Wergo announces the US release today (Feb. 14, 2006) of "Shalom Comrade!: Yiddish Music in the Soviet Union 1928-1961" (Schott Wergo SM 1627-2), the 10th production in the Jewish Music Series of CDs edited by ethnomusicologists Joel Rubin and Rita Ottens . "Shalom Comrade" and other productions of the Jewish Music Series are distributed by Harmonia Mundi USA.

The anthology "Shalom Comrade" tells the history of Yiddish music in the Soviet Union via rare recordings from the archive of Ottens and Rubin. This carefully edited production documents the enormous variety of Yiddish music performed in the Soviet Union, from rollicking klezmer dance tunes to the interwar Polish-Jewish cabaret songs of the Galician troubadour Mordkhe Gebirtig, 19th century Yiddish folk songs, music of the Soviet Yiddish theatre, to art songs with revolutionary texts by composers such as Samuil Polonskii, Lev Pul'ver, Vladimir Shainskii and Moses Mil'ner, and texts by the poets B. Bergol'ts and Iosif Kerler. Rubin and Ottens' 40-page booklet in English and German includes a detailed essay about the political-ideological impact on Yiddish language, culture and music and ­ in the final analysis ­ on Jewish life in the Soviet Union.

Yiddish music played an important role in the cultural and political life of the Soviet Union's several million Jews throughout the 74 years of communist rule. Stalin's cultural ideologues planned to deploy the music of the Yiddish-speaking Jews as a building block for the new Soviet music; at the same time, the "outmoded" Jewish religion and its traditional way of life was being branded as counter-revolutionary in show trials. The recording of Jewish music in the Soviet Union was limited, with only 100-150 78 rpm discs released from 1917-1967. The importance of artists like Solomon Mikhoels and Nechama Lifshitsaite was immense for the Jews of the Soviet Union: celebrities of international significance, they were as well known for their roles as political figureheads as they were for their performances.

"Shalom Comrade" features some of the great performers of the Soviet and world stage: Misha Aleksandrovich, Sof'ia (Sonya) Druker, Mikhail Epel'baum, Solomon Fayntukh, Sara Fibikh, Marina (Masha) Gordon, Emil' Gorovets, Anna Guzik, Irma Iaunzem, Solomon Khromchenko, Nechama Lifshitsaite, Saul Liubimov, Solomon Mikhoels, the Moscow State Yiddish Theatre, Debora Pantofel'-Nechetskaia, M. I. Rabinovich, Zinovii Shul'man, Sidi Tal', Tatiana Vayntraub, and Klara Vaga.

For more information:
http://www.rubin-ottens.com
http://www.wergo.de
http://www.harmoniamundi.com/usa

Wonderful World of Folk Songs in NJ

"The Wonderful World of Folk Songs" is a multimedia presentation by Mr. Zvi Shacham
Date: March 2, 2006
Time: 8:00pm
Admission: Free
Place: Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County
230 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River, NJ 08882
RSVP by 2/28/06 info@jf-gmc.org or (732) 432-7711 ext 20
Ever wondered….
¯What is the origin of the American National Anthem?
¯Who really wrote Hatikvah?
¯Who wrote Hava Nagila?
¯Who are the outstanding American folk songs writers and performers?
Folk songs are part of the tradition and folklore of all nations. They reflect the history and culture of the people. Mr. Shacham has been studying, collecting and presenting international folk music for many years.

Two Women's Events in Jerusalem

Wednesday, February 15 at 8PM Women's Hachnoses Calla Event, featuring Anita Tucker from GK speaking, and musical entertainment by Ayelet Hashachar, visiting from Baltimore. At the Matnas in Ramat Bet Shemesh. Bring a gift or cash donation. More info, call: Yehudis Schamroth at 0545-91-6673 or Shoshana Schillet at 999-2805

February 28, at 7:30pm Women's Performance for Rosh Chodesh Adar: "THE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR" an original funny musical set in the 1920's, written, produced and directed by Rebbitzen Devorah Green. At Beit Ha'Am "Gerard Bechar Theater" 11 Bezalel St. Tickets: 45, 50, 60 nis (Proceeds to support Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah). Info: call 054-808-4746

A Rare Evening of Klezmer Tsimbl

Zev Feldman, Pete Rushefsky and Alicia Jo Rabins Performing: "A Rare Evening of Klezmer Tsimbl (Cimbalom/hammered dulcimer)": Live at The Stone (www.thestonenyc.com/)
John Zorn, Artistic Director
Basya Schechter, Curator for February series
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Location: Corner of Ave. C and 2nd St., Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC
Time: Two sets: 8PM and 10PM
Admission: $10

A special night of music featuring the tsimbl-- also known as the cimbalom or Jewish/Eastern European hammered dulcimer. A string instrument played like a xylophone, the tsimbl employs over 100 strings to create a mystical harp-like sonority. It was a popular instrument in Jewish klezmer ensembles across Eastern Europe from the 1500's through the first decades of the twentieth century.

Walter Zev Feldman (tsimbl) was a true musical pioneer when he revived the tsimbl's use in klezmer in the 1970's. He continues to be a leading performer and researcher of Jewish music and dance as well as a leading authority on Ottoman and other Central Asian/Near Eastern musics. His Khevrisa ensemble's recording European Klezmer Music was released in 2000 by Smithsonian Folkways. When not performing, Feldman also serves as Artistic Director for the 92 St.Y's Jewish music concert series and holds faculty/fellowship appointments at Bar-Ilan University and Hebrew University. Feldman recently co-directed the successful application for Turkey resulting in UNESCO naming the Mevlevi Dervish tradition as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Pete Rushefsky (tsimbl) was first turned on to the tsimbl when he heard Feldman's seminal 1979 album Jewish Klezmer Music with mandolinist/clarinetist Andy Statman. He performs regularly with some of the leading performers of the klezmer scene, such as Adrianne Greenbaum, Steven Greenman, Rebecca Kaplan, Joel Rubin and Alicia Svigals. A veteran faculty member of KlezKamp and KlezKanada, Pete also serves as Executive Director of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, a NY-based non-profit dedicated to preserving the performing arts traditions of ethnic and new immigrant communities.

Alicia Jo Rabins (violin) is a rising star on the New York music scene. She has performed across Europe and North America as a member of the klezmer ensemble Golem. Additionally, Rabins is well-known as a virtuoso of Old-Time music, having performed or recorded with the Mammals, Underbelly, Jay Ungar, Pete Seeger, Cliff Eberhart. Her acclaimed solo album Sugar Shack was released in 2003.

FOUR WOMEN: PIANO TRIOS

A concert of Piano Trios by Four Women composers will be held in New York on Sunday, March 19 at 3pm.
The composers are LERA AUERBACH, REBECCA CLARKE, FANNY MENDELSSOHN, CLARA SCHUMANN.
The concert will be held in St. Marks in the Bowery (19th and Second Avenue and performed by the Downtown Chamber Trio: RIEKO KAWABATA, violin; DANIEL BARRETT, cello and MIMI STERN-WOLFE, piano
INFORMATION: dmpmimi@msn.com: Suggested donation: $10
Reservations: 212 477-1594; www.downtownmusicproductions.org

presented by DOWNTOWN MUSIC PRODUCTIONS
MIMI STERN-WOLFE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Rebecca Kaplan & Pete Rushefsky at Newton Free Library

Rebecca Kaplan & Pete Rushefsky
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 2 PM
Free concert

Newton Free Library
330 Homer St.
Newton Center, MA
(617) 796-1360

Warm up a winter afternoon with a concert of Yiddish folk songs with vocalist Rebecca Kaplan and tsimblist (cimbalom/hammered dulcimer) Pete Rushefsky in a free concert at the Newton Library. Acclaimed Yiddish music artists Kaplan and Rushefsky bring to life rarely heard gems of traditional Yiddish music, as well as original works.
http://newtonfreelibrary.net

Japanese Production of Fiddler

Readers may be interested in watching this online video of a Japanese version of Fiddler. A link to Fiddler on the Roof - in Japanese: http://www.toho.co.jp/stage/yane2005/asx/yane_r1_low.asx

WORKMEN’S CIRCLE in Boston features STRAUSS/WARSCHAUER DUO

THE WORKMEN’S CIRCLE PRESENTS A CONCERT AND YIDDISH DANCE PARTY WITH THE STRAUSS/WARSCHAUER DUO
Saturday, February 11, 8:00 pm
Doors open at 7:30
At the Workmen’s Circle, 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline
TICKETS: WC Members: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Non-members: $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
For more information contact the Workmen’s Circle at 617-566-6281 or circle@workmenscircleboston.org

Mail check (payable to the Workmen’s Circle) to the Workmen’s Circle 1762 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, or call for credit card payment. Advanced payment must be received at the WC office by 5pm on the Thursday prior to the concert.
Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer are two of the most beloved performers and teachers in the international klezmer and Yiddish music scene. They were both long-time members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and have performed with violinist Itzhak Perlman on film and in concert. As the Strauss/Warschauer Duo, they have performed to overwhelming acclaim in such diverse venues as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow, the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater in New York City, and the Art of Yiddish in Los Angeles with Theodore Bikel. They lead workshops and classes throughout North America and Europe, are on the faculty of KlezKamp, KlezKanada and KlezFest at the University of London, and are curators of the Columbia University Series on Klezmer Music & Yiddish Song.
“Terrific” “Phenomenal”
The New York Times Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
After the concert set, Deborah Strauss will teach and lead traditional Yiddish dances — freylekhs, khosidls and more — with live musical accompaniment. No previous experience needed!

Ruby Harris band Releases CD "LeShem Shamayim"

You¹re invited to a CD Release Party with The RUBY HARRIS Band Star of Diaspora
for the Debut of his CD Le'Shem Shamayim: For Heaven¹s Sake on Sameach Music.
This Saturday nite Shabbas Shirah Spectacular Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:00 p.m.
at The Carlebach Shul
305 West 79th Street New York NY 10024
Tel. (212) 580-2391, Infoline (212) 721-SHUL
appearing with ONEG Shemesh --Founding Moshav Band member and his CD Bring Us Together.

ASEFA in East Village

ASEFA will be performing at Mo Pitkin's in the East Village on:
Thursday, March 2, 9:30pm
Mo Pitkin's, 34 Ave. A (BTW 2/3 st.)
http://www.mopitkins.com/
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
http://www.jatm.org/ASEFA

"Lampa Ladino" Live from Russia Online

For those who use the computer on Saturdays, you'll be able to listen online to a live concert of unusual band from Russia "Lampa Ladino" . This "Russian ensemble Lampa Ladino performs traditional Sephardic romance music. The haunting and unforgettable music of Lampa Ladino is based on the traditional music written in the Judeo-Spanish language, Ladino, by Sephardic Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula until their expulsion in the 15th century". The show will begin at 10:00 AM GMT. Saturday, February 11, 2006, in Moscow studio Audgard and will be transmitted via the Internet to entire world from the site Live-radio.ru. Please search for details at: http://live-radio.ru/efir/player.html

Inaugural New Orleans International Jewish Music Festival

April 1 and April 2. Mark those dates on your calendars. Maybe even book a flight to New Orleans to attend the event! Out of towner tickets are only $50 for the entire two days. The first ever New Orleans International Jewish Music Festival is happening in only a few short weeks. And it's going to be a great line up: Neshama Carlebach, Rebbe Soul, Moshav Band, Sam Glasser, The New Orlenas Klezmer All Stars and much more. To learn all about it, read this flyer: http://www.hiddurmitzvah.org/neworleans/media/pressrelease.pdf Come support the Jewish community of New Orleans and at the same time bring some great music back to the city.

Judi Lamble's compositions on new website

Judi Lamble, who composes for accompanied and a cappella choruses, soloists, and duets, has a new website that has contact information for obtaining her scores, and samples of her music. Lamble's music can be appropriate for groups with varying degrees of sophistication. For more information about difficulty of pieces, contact the composer. Some of the religious texts she uses follow the Reform liturgy. She also includes links to other composers sites. http://www.jewishvocalmusic.com/listen.html

Austin Klezmorim with new CD

The Austin Klezmorim have a new CD, Bubba's Waltz, and it combines "traditional" klezmer with some American jazz favorites. To hear some samples, http://www.bamusic.net/bubbaswaltz.htm . Bill Averbach did a lot of the arrangements. This band is one that definitely goes to its own, sweet beat.

IndiePulse Article on Reboot Stereophonic

“The project is grounded in a belief that music creates conversations otherwise impossible in daily life,” says Katznelson. “The mission of the label is to trigger a new conversation about the present by listening anew to the Jewish past.” So quotes an article : online in indiepulse . We find out that the music holds the message. Reboot Stereophonic is a non-profit record label dedicated to finding all sorts of Jewish music from the past and interviewing the musicians examining "generational changes in identity, community and meaning." Part of the object of this project has been rereleases of of old recordings such as the Irving Field "Bagels and Bongos"

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The Ramaz Chorus of the New York under the direction of Caroll Goldberg recorded songs on Yom Yerushalayim in 2001. Title of the CD is Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow. If your Jewish day school is looking for material that is attractive, uplifting, and sounds good both to you and teens, you may want to take a listen to this recording to see what kids can do. Caroll Goldberg also has a book L’yisrael Mizmor, that has "selections with melody line, chords, two and three part settings suitable for amateur as well as professional chorus, texts, transliterations and translations, discography, curriculum guide, amd bibliography." Availble through www.jewishmusic.com.

Atzilut Concerts for Peace

Atzilut is known in Europe as the "Middle East Peace Orchestra". The ten-member ensemble features Arab and Jewish musicians in concert making a powerful statement for peace by working together. Atzilut has three CDs: Fourth World, Souls on Fire: Music for the Kabbalah, and Concertsforpeace.com. The latter is a balanced program of Arabic and Jewish music including such works as Fo Rusnic (Arabic), Nagila Halleluyah (Hebrew), Balleghu (Arabic) and songs that combine Arabic and Hebrew. Available on CDbaby. Music director: Hazzan Jack Kessler. The message of the CD is "move forward into peace". It's for anyone enjoying middle east music with pleasant voices (Maurice Chedid performing Arabic vocalsand Jack Kessler, Hebrew vocals) and good instrumentalists. has a pleasing voice to western ears as well traditional ones. www.concertsforpeace.com

Laurie Sucher sings "Diaspora Dreams"

Laurie Sucher sings in the Chciago area as a seasoned cabaret, Yiddish singer and cantorial soloist. Laurie grew up in a Yiddish speaking home in New York, so she's quite familiar with the language-- and the songs on this CD show that familiarity.The CD is a mix of music recorded a few years ago live at Chicago's Harold Washington Library Theater and studio takes. Also included on the collection are a number of Ladino Songs. The CD is available through CD Baby.

Jonah's Songs CD from Emil Skobeloff

Emil Skobeloff, serving as a cantor of Congreation Ohev Shalom in Wallingford, PA sends a CD dedicated to his son Jonah. It's a private publication produced with the help of studio musician Pete Huttlinger, who has played on Grammy nominated projects and is a veteran Nashville session player. It shows. The arrangements and instrumentation are professional. The repertoire are all standards of Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew such as Eli Eli and Quando El Rei Nimrod and My Yiddishe Mama. Contact the cantor at: 225 South Chester Road, Ste. 5, Swarthmore, PA 19081 about obtaining copies.

Jewish Vocal Repertoire Being Compiled

Cantor Ken Jaffe is completing the final phases of a large bibliography of vocal compositions of Jewish music. It is a comprehensive and annotated work of large scale pieces for solo voice(s) on Jewish themes by Jewish composers. He is interested in knowing about compositions that he may not have included in this work thus far. If you know of, or have created solo vocal compositions of ten minutes or greater in length, on Jewish themes, please write to him and let him know the information. The book is scheduled to be published in about a year by Scarecrow Press. Please respond by February 14, 2006 and write directly to Cantor Jaffe at.zazasdad@copper.net.