Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles & Valley Beth Shalompresent

Tuesday October 30, 2012

7:30 p.m.

A CONCERT FOR WORLD PEACEA MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO JOURNALIST DANIEL PEARL

Featuring Aminadav Aloni's KOHELETH for mezzo-soprano, tenor, choir, orchestra and jazz ensemble

conducted by Dr. Noreen Green Guest artists

Cantor Magda Fishman, Temple Beth Am and

Cantor Marcus Feldman, Sinai Temple

This concert is dedicated to promoting increasing toleration and understanding among the nations of the world as envisioned by Daniel Pearl Foundation and its creation of Daniel Pearl Music Days.

We would like to especially recognize Judea and Ruth Pearl for the special work they are doing with their foundation. Donations to the Daniel Pearl Foundation are fully tax deductible and may be sent to:

Daniel Pearl FounDationc/o Jewish Music Commission of la

16161 Ventura Blvd, Suite C, PMB 621 encino, Ca 91436

aBout Daniel Pearl WorlD MuSiC DaySTonight’s concert is dedicated to Danny Pearl whose life was brutally taken away by those who only bow to the gods of hate, fanaticism and bigotry. Danny is missed by all who still believe that goodness and courage can overcome all injustices.

Daniel Pearl World Music Days was created in response to the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl at the hands of extremists in Karachi, Pakistan. Danny’s family and friends came together to work towards a more humane world, forming the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communications.

Danny was a talented musician who joined musical groups in every community in which he lived, leaving behind a long trail of musician-friends spanning the entire world. Commemorating Danny’s October 10th birthday, World Music Days uses the universal language of music to encourage fellowship across cultures and build a platform for “Harmony for Humanity.”

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DEDICATION

PROgRAM

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Deux Melodies Hébraiques (1914) Maurice Ravel  Kaddisch L’Énigme Éterenelle

Marcus Feldman, Tenor Mitch Newman, Violin

Simple Song from “Mass” (1971) Leonard BernsteinMarcus Feldman, Tenor Martin Glicklich, Flute

Jazz Set Lullaby of Bird Land What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music

Magda Fishman and Jazz Ensemble

Koheleth (1972) Aminadav AloniKohelethRound and RoundTo Everything There Is a SeasonGo Eat Your Bread with JoySweet Is the LightFrom Light to Darkness

Marcus Feldman, Magda Fishman, soloistsValley Beth Shalom Choir Orchestra Jazz Ensemble

ARTISTS

A native of Los Angeles, Cantor MarCuS FelDMan trained in opera as both a baritone and as a tenor. In 2007, he graduated from the University Of Southern California with degrees in Vocal Performance (B.M.) and Business Administration (B.S.). While at USC, Cantor Feldman was a member of the university’s top choral ensemble and sang leading roles in two of the main stage operas. Cantor Feldman began the study of hazzanut privately with Cantor Nathan Lam in 2005. During the time of his study, he served as

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Dr. noreen Green, Los Angles Jewish Symphony Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor, is also music director at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, a renowned lecturer on Jewish music, and an accomplished educator. She is known world-wide for her knowledge and skill in presenting music with Jewish themes.

Dr. Green has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to the multi-cultural music scene in Los Angeles. Most recently, Zev Yarosolavsky and the LA County Board of Supervisors honored her for her eighteen years

with the LAJS and her contribution to the LA Arts scene. In 2011, she received a Certificate of Recognition from California Legislature Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield for producing and conducting Remembering 9/11, a commemorative concert for the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. Dr. Green has received public recognition from Congressman Brad Sherman and by the Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life. She has received awards and recognition from the National Foundation of Jewish Culture, the State of Israel Bonds, and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Dr. Green has been a featured speaker for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Upbeat Live series.

Internationally, Dr. Green has guest conducted for Jewish Music concerts in Israel, South Africa, and Canada. Under her baton, LAJS has performed in concert with Hollywood personalities including Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Leonard Nimoy, Randy Newman, Theodore Bikel, Laraine Newman, Valerie Harper, Pat Boone, Lainie Kazan, Fyvush Finkel, Dave Koz, Marvin Hamlisch, Roslyn Kind, David Benoit and others.

During her tenure with the LAJS, Dr. Green, along with Education Director Ilizabeth Gilbert, has developed education programs initially funded by the Jewish Community Foundation. Several of these programs have gone on to receive grants from major funders, including a substantial education grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for its Patchwork of Cultures program, which uses music to illustrate and celebrate the cultural bridge between the Sephardic Jewish and Hispanic communities.

Dr. Green received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at California State University, Northridge, under conductor John Alexander. She wrote her doctoral treatise on the music of David Nowakowsky, and went on to edit many of his works, ten of which have been published by Laurendale.

From 1986 to 1992, Dr. Green was an Assistant Professor at CSUN and in the summer of 1993, she worked with conductor Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Music School. With his support and encouragement, she developed the concept for and founded the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.

Cantor MaGDa FISHMan (mezzo-soprano) is a singer-musician, who is building a large and loving following among a wide spectrum of audiences.Cantor Fishman has created a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Her repertoire includes Israeli songs, jazz, liturgical masterpieces, musical theater and her own compositions. She served in the Israeli Army Orchestra as vocal soloist and trumpet player. She has performed extensively in Israel and Europe, the United States and Canada. Fishman came to the United States as part of the Tel-Aviv Broadway Musical Theater Project and

is the recipient of the prestigious America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship. She has performed at the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Canada, the First Night Festival in Boston, the 92nd Street Y Festival, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Baked Potato Jazz Club in Los Angeles, the New JerseyPerforming Arts Center, the Walter Reade Theater, Town Hall, Prague State Opera, and most recently at AIPAC, the Apollo Theater and the Israeli Embassy in Washington.She was recently featured at the annual American-Israel Culture Foundation Gala at Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Rose Theater. She also performed for Folksbiene (the National Yiddish Theatre) in an event honoring Elie Weisel, the Metroplitan Room in NYC and Central Park’s Summer Stage.Cantor Fishman graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary’s H.L Miller Cantorial School. She served as the Intern Cantor at CBST Manhattan and joined Congregation Beth Am, Los Angeles, in August 2011 as their full time Cantor.Her CD Magda and Shorashim was released last year.

ARTISTS

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Cantor of Sun City Jewish Services in Palm Desert, California, leading monthly Shabbat services and High Holy Day services with Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin. In 2010, as part of his cantorial studies, Cantor Feldman spent a semester in Jerusalem studying hazzanut with the renowned Cantor Naftali Herstik. He was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, in May of 2011. Cantor Feldman holds a master’s degree in Jewish Sacred Music from the same institution.Cantor Feldman was appointed to be the Second Cantor of Stephen S. Wise Temple in 2011, serving alongside his mentor and long-time friend, Cantor Nathan Lam. Cantor Feldman regularly appears as a guest cantor throughout the state of California. He is both honored and excited to join Sinai Temple as its Senior Cantor. He looks forward to continuing as a part of, as well as adding to, the long and impressive tradition of cantors and music directors at Sinai Temple. Cantor Feldman views the cantorate as a “sacred vessel” through which a seamless transmission of Jewish musical heritage throughout the ages flows. He strives to honor and preserve the rich traditions of the past, while still looking forward to the newer “gateways” of the present and those of the future in order to best serve the Jewish community of the 21st century.

COMPOSERS

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leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) was an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim. According to the New York Times, he was “one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history.” Bernstein’s Mass is a musical theatre work composed with text by Bernstein and additional text and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy, it premiered on September 8,

1971, conducted by Maurice Peress. The performance was part of the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Maurice ravel (1875 – 1937) was born in Ciboure, France. At age 14, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire and later studied with Gabriel Fauré.Around 1903, when Ravel was in his twenties, he became one of an avant-garde group of artists, writers and musicians known as the “Apaches.” Ravel knew and associated with many of the leading composers of his day, but his personal friendships were limited to just a few of these. They included Manuel De Falla, Gabriel Fauré,

Igor Stravinsky and Ralph Vaughan Williams.On the whole, he developed closer relationships with some of the performers of his works, especially female ones. Ravel’s Deux Mélodies Hébraïques (Two Hebrew Songs), like so many songs of his, exist in versions for voice and piano and for voice and orchestra. These two songs by Ravel were written in 1914 at Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The first song Kaddisch uses an Aramaic text from the Jewish prayer book; L’Énigme Éternelle is based on a traditional Yiddish verse. They were first performed in June 1914 by Alvina Alvi (who commissioned them) with Ravel at the piano. Ravel orchestrated the songs in 1919-1920. Ravel was incorrectly identified as being Jewish. Many proofs have been produced in support of this mistaken opinion, especially the interest which Maurice Ravel took in Jewish matters, his harmonization of Hebrew melodies, and above all, the close friendships he formed with several Jewish people who were - and are - some of his finest interpreters and best friends.

COMPOSERS

aMInaDaV alonI, 1928-1999

An accomplished classical and jazz pianist, musical theatre composer and arranger, Aminadav Aloni was, above all, a prolific synagogue composer who created Jewish sacred musical works of distinction. The uniqueness of these compositions is guided by his familiarity with sacred texts, his devotion to classic and modern Hebrew literature, prose and poetry, and his love for

contemporary Israeli and Broadway idioms.Born in Tel Aviv in 1928, Aloni immigrated to the United States in 1945 to study piano, theory, composition and conducting at Los Angeles City College. He then moved to New York to pursue advanced piano studies at Juilliard. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he taught piano, performed in jazz clubs and improvised accompaniments for the dance companies of noted choreographers. In 1966 Hazzan Samuel Fordis, cantor of Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue, invited Aloni to accompany worship services there. This eventually led to his appointment as choir director and composer-in-residence, a role he held for almost thirty years. The creation and performance of Aloni’s Chassidic Sabbath Service, Hallel, Yizkor, Torah Service, Ruth, Aleynu Leshabeiach–A Jazz Service, and Koheleth and Or HaAm(Eight Lights) – both for large orchestra, soloists and chorus - sprang from this key period in his composing career. In 1970 he began studying musical theatre and co-authored nine complete musicals, several on Biblical themes. Aloni’s theatrical lyricism can be heard in many of the melodies that he constructed for synagogue prayer text settings. During this time, he composed numerous scores for both cinema and television.In writing Koheleth (Ecclesiastes), which is entirely in English, Aloni translated the text from Hebrew into modern idiom. He leaves behind centuries-old traditional formality, giving a fresh look to the contrasting moods, from exuberance to despair, of this controversial Biblical scroll and at the same time conforming the texts to the musical line. Perhaps this is most striking in the final movement entitled “From Darkness to Light.” Here he creates a scene depicting the sorrow and dejection contained in the text. Aloni used his profound knowledge of liturgy to write music that uses the ancient tropes and melds them with the jazz modes of which he was a master.From his diagnosis with a terminal illness in 1994 until his death in 1999, Aloni entered a period of prodigious creativity during which he completed Songs From Home (a Friday evening service in the Israeli style), Ta’amei Sepharad, (a Friday evening service in the Sephardic/Spanish style), Mussaf l’Shabbat (additional service for a Sabbath morning), a Selichot service, a High Holiday Kedushah, Consolations of Isaiah, and numerous art songs and individual liturgical pieces.

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TExT fOR kOhELETh

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Translation from the Hebrew by Aminadav Aloni

I. KoHeletHKohelet, Kohelet, Kohelet, Kohelet More than a sage was he, for he taught the people knowledge. He weighed and he searched and he fashioned many proverbs: Cast your bread upon the water. After many days you’ll find it again. Don’t you be too just, don’t you be too clever, don’t you be too wicked, don’t you be a fool. There is no man on earth who is just and will do good and never err. Wickedness is foolish and folly is madness. All you find to do, do with all your might. There is no action, there is no reason, there is no knowledge, there is no wisdom in the grave, where you are going.

II. rounD anD rounD Hevel, havalim, hakol hevel, said Kohelet.Vanities of vanities, said Kohelet. What profit has a man of all his toil under the sun. One generation goes, one generation comes, round and round and round and round.The sun rises, the sun sets, rushing back to rise again. Going south, going north, round and round goes the wind, returning to circle again. All the rivers run to the sea, yet the sea is never full. The wind goes, the rivers run, rushing back. Vanities of vanities. One generation goes, one generation comes, yet the earth remains forever. What has been, that will be, what has been done, that be done, there is nothing new under the sun.

III. to eVerYtHInG tHere IS a SeaSonTo everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens.There is a time to be born, there is a time to die. There is a time to plant, there is a time to uproot; A time to kill, a time to heal; A time to wreck, a time to build. There is a time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, a time to dance. There is a time to scatter stones, a time to gather stones together, A time to embrace, a time to hold off embraces. To everything there is a season. There is a time to seek, there is a time to lose. There is a time to keep, there is a time to cast off. There is a time to tear, there is a time to repair. There is a time to be silent, a time to speak, A time to love, a time to hate, A time of war, a time of peace. ±Continued on Next Page

TExT fOR kOhELETh

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IV. Go eat Your BreaD WItH JoYGo eat your bread with joy, and drink you wine with a glad heart, for God has favored your actions. May your clothes always be white and the oil on your head not be lacking. Enjoy life with the woman you love, through all the days of your vain life that He has given you under the sun, for this is your share in life, in work for all your toil under the sun. Again I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the brave, the bread is not to the wise, the wealth is not to the clever, and the favor is not to the learned, For time overtakes them and accidents will happen to all. So, go eat your bread with joy, and drink you wine with a glad heart, for God has favored your actions. May your clothes always be white and the oil on your head not be lacking. Enjoy life with the woman you love, through all the days of your vain life that He has given you under the sun, for this is your share in life, in work for all your toil under the sun.

V. SWeet IS tHe lIGHtSweet is the light, it is good to see the sun. If a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. Enjoy! And remember the days of darkness; they will be many. Rejoice, young man, rejoice in your youth. Let your heart be glad in your youthful days. Follow the way of your heart and the desires of your heart. Banish sadness from your heart, remove all sorrow from your flesh, For childhood and youth are but a fleeting breath.

VI. FroM lIGHt to DarKneSSThe evil days come, the years grow near, the years with no pleasure draw near. The sun grows dark, the light and the moon and the stars. And the clouds return after the rain. The watchmen of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent. The grinders are idle for they are few, and those who look through the windows grow dim. The gates in the marketplace are closed, the sound of the mill is low. Then man goes to his eternal home, while the hired mourners walk through the streets.The silver cord is severed, the golden bowl is shattered, the pitcher is broken at the spring, the wheel is shattered at the pit. The dust returns to the earth as it was, AND THE SPIRIT RETURNED TO GOD WHO GAVE IT. Hevel havalim, hakol hevel.

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ORChESTRAViolinMitch Newman,

Concertmaster Carolyn Osborn,

Assistant ConcertmasterJohana Krejci, PrincipalJon BraunBeth DrorIdell LowJonathan RubinMelody Tunick-ZideSarah Wallin-Huff

ViolaKarolina Naziemjec,

PrincipalRichard BraunJeffrey HagenCarolyn Li

CelloPeter Penroad, PrincipalBernie BlauDavid BraunRemy Cashman

BassRichard Simon

Flute/RecorderMartin Glicklich

Oboe/English Horn Maya BarreraClarinet Zinovy Goro Clarinet/Saxophone Robert Elfman

Bassoon Tara Speizer

French Horn Steve Duran James Mattos

Trumpet Avi Bialo

Trombone Lori Stuntz

Harp Marcia Dickstein

Jazz EnsembleChris Hardin, PianoMB Gordy, DrumsBob Remstein, KeyboardAdrian Rosen, Electric Bass

VBS ChOIR

Soprano altoFay Abramovitch-Wernick Sherry AngelSylvia Bernstein-Tregub Rita BehlingKaren Deutsch Sandy BermanFarzaneh Farnoush Phyllis FleschlerAdi Flatt Elaine GillJane Fredgant Sharen JacobsRachel Reich Freed Florence MeskerArlene Holtzman Marcia PollakJulie Madorsky Marcy RaineyPaula Meichtry Ellie SimonRoseanne Moscoe Andrea Tuberman-JaddaLenore Rukasin Jackie Shapiro Barbara Sobel Diane Sweet Wynne Waugaman

tenor BaSSJeremy Eichberg Stephen FleschlerDavid Gill Perry FredgantJay Harwitt Marc Baron GinsburgJules Mandel Steven HoischMarsha Melcombe Michael LinskMike Neuwirth Yoav Paskowitz * Mark Nudelman Don RosenDavid Pardess Robb RosenbaumLexington Sherbin Elliott Sigman *soloist

Want to join the choir? -E-mail noreen Green at noreeng2@gmail.comDonations to the VBS Choir Fund are always welcome!

Upcoming Events in 2012: Friday, november 16, 8:00 pm - an interfaith Shabbat ServiceInterfaith Choirs – Sharing Our Musical Prayer Traditions

Sunday, December 16, 2:00 pm Multi-generational choirs celebrate Hanukkah!

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We Thank Our Generous and Loyal PatronsYvette Ackert Dan Aloni Joanne Aloni-Bolden Perryne Anker Evelyne & Michel Antin Golda & Harry Bain Mel Barlam Michellle & Phil Baron Gabriella Bashner Trudi Behar Eunice Udelf & Ruddy

Beldner Nancy Berger Bella & BenZion Bergman Sandy & Norman Berman Evelyn & Menashe Bernstein Ronald Blanc Carolyn Block Barbara & Richard Braun Ellen & David Braun Lynn Gordon & Jonathan

Braun Sandra & Robert Braun Rachel & Ari Bussel Annette Cohen Faith & Jonathan Cookler Nita Corinblit & Burt Dann Jeanie & Derrick Deutsch Karen & Leslie DeutschJanet & David Djalilmand Helen & Gary Dosik Noreen Green & Ian Drew Ruth Drexler Stella & Michael Dubey Marjorie & Les Forman Cantors Judy & Herschel Fox Jane & Perry Fredgant Rose & Ezekiel Freed Elaine & David Gill Harriet & Manny Glaser Zita Gluskin Joyce & Eric Goldman Rheba Goldman

Sherman Grancell Bill & Barbara Green Alice Greenfield Earl Greinitz Rachael & Paul Guth Ivan Halaj Steven Halaj Sally & Bernard Hanes Phillip Hatten Vikki & Sidney Helperin Rochelle Hendeles Arlene Holtzman Leo Howard Marcie & Scott Howard Judy & Herbert Hyman Jerome Joseph Natalie & Pat Kater Myrna & Mervyn Kalman Carol Kaufman Marion Klein Lisa & Victor Kohn Sheila Krasnoff Adriene & Michael

Kreisberg Nancy & Samuel Kunin Ellie & Mark Lainer Belle Landa Sidonia Lax Bessita Lederman Doreen & Ronald Lever Alicia & Allan Levine Allyn & Jeffrey Levine Barbara Mack & Norman

Levine Lillian & Joseph Liebross Shirley Lowy Sidney Lyons Micky & Donald Mann Selda Massion Paula Meichtry Florence Mesker Lila Meyers Bernice & Darwin Miller

Rita & Donald Motzkin Nicole Perlman Arthur Peskoff Marion Phillips Joy & Jerry Picus Louise Pinsky Marcia & Jerry Pollak Barbara Rose Ponse Lola & Jerry Rabow Janice & Ben Reznik Peggy & Ed Robin Linda & Albert Rosenblatt Jan & Bennett Salvay Melvin Salvay Charlotte & Melvin Samuels Pearl Sass Violet & Lawrence

Schlesinger Sally Schneider Malkah & Rabbi Harold M.

Schulweis Sally & Robert Shafton Jackie Shapiro Louise & Charles Silverberg Shula & Jacob Silverman Joyce Sindell Sydell Singer Carol & Stuart Solomon Beverly & Burton Sterman Diane Sweet Sylvia Bernstein-Tregub &

Burt Tregub Margarita Treger Marcia & Richard Volpert Cheri & Fred Warner Elaine & Charles Weidmann Gail & Irving Weintraub Clark Weissman Fay & Milton Wernick Michelle & Alan Willner Judy & Peter Wollstein Wendy Yano

Graphic Design by Janet Djalilmand

5773—2012

15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91436(818) 788-6000 | www.vbs.org

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Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles and Valley Beth Shalom are proud to present

K R I S T A L L N A C H T C O M M E M O R A T I O N C O N C E R TThursday, November 8, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Valley Beth Shalom

The Night Broken Glassof

Ron Selka Brian SchuldtSteven Vanhauwaert

with Ron Selka, Principal Clarinetist of the Israel Philharmonic Brian Schuldt, Cello | Steven Vanhauwaert, Piano

in a program of music by Ben-Haim, Ullmann, Zemlinsky and Brahms

Admission: $10 paid in advance | $15 at the doorFor reservations by Wed. Nov. 7, at 3:00 p.m., call Valley Beth Shalom at (818) 788-6000.

For further information, visit www.jewishmusicla.org