THE JOHN LEOPOLD and MARTHA DELLHEIM SENIOR RECITAL

H. L. MILLER CANTORIAL SCHOOL AND COLLEGE OF JEWISH MUSIC

Eliana Kissner Joyce Rosenzweig, piano Akira Ishiguro, guitar Senior Cantorial School Class and H. L. Miller Cantorial School Chorus Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn, conductor

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021, 7:00 P.M. THE JOHN LEOPOLD AND MARTHA DELLHEIM SENIOR RECITAL

H. L. MILLER CANTORIAL SCHOOL AND COLLEGE OF JEWISH MUSIC

Eliana Kissner, soprano Joyce Rosenzweig, piano Akira Ishiguro, guitar

RECITAL OF ELIANA KISSNER

Harbstlid Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman (Arr. Rosenzweig) Joyce Rosenzweig, piano

HaSimla HaSegula Alexander (Sasha) Argov Joyce Rosenzweig, piano

Ahavat Olam Morris Barash Joyce Rosenzweig, piano

Rachem Na Yossele Rosenblatt Joyce Rosenzweig, piano

How to Die: Songs of Midrash Mishlei Eliana Kissner a. Her Beloved Soul b. Blessed c. You Are Forgiven Akira Ishiguro, guitar Aharon “Wheels” Bolsta, percussion

Ay Sinyora Novia Ladino Folk Song Akira Ishiguro, guitar

Me Kemi y Me Enflami Nick Doneff Akira Ishiguro, guitar

2 Senior Cantorial School Class and H. L. Miller Cantorial School Chorus Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn, conductor Senior soloists: Mira Davis, Eliana Kissner, Daniella Risman, Jacob Sandler, Eryka Velazquez

Modim Anachnu Lach Natasha Hirschhorn Natasha Hirschhorn, piano

Ya Ribon Olam Robbie Solomon Joyce Rosenzweig, piano

CHORUS: Ingrid Barnett, Roseanne Benjamin, Rachel Black, David Childs, Josh Ehrlich, Marilyn Okoshi, Noah Rachels, Gedalia Penner Robinson, Max Silverstone, Neal Taibel

Mira Davis Eliana Kissner Daniella Risman Jacob Sandler Eryka Velazquez

Concert produced by Cantor Nancy Abramson and Cantor Gerald Cohen Videography and editing by JTS New Media, filmed at Women’s League Seminary Synagogue, JTS Final mastering and post-production by Arts Laureate

For Eliana Kissner recital: Audio mixing by Akira Ishiguro (pieces with guitar) Production design by April M. Bartlett Photography direction by Dan Henry

3 PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES

ELIANA KISSNER HAZZAN NATASHA HIRSCHHORN

Eliana is so grateful to be pursuing and Natasha J. Hirschhorn is the music director completing her master of sacred music and conductor of the H. L. Miller Cantorial and cantorial investiture at the H. L. Miller School choir at JTS. Hazzan Hirschhorn is Cantorial School this spring 2021. For more the author of numerous liturgical and secular than a decade, her experience working as compositions. She is also an accomplished a performing artist and educator has been performer and recording artist, and has been rich and varied. She was an Arts Fellow at the Drisha Institute for Jewish featured as a singer, pianist, conductor, and composer at congregations, Education in New York and lead singer of Safra, a Jewish Middle Eastern music festivals, and in concert halls throughout the country, including ensemble in Berkeley, California. In 2015–2016, while participating in the Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Toronto Jewish Music Dorot Fellowship, she studied at the Center for Middle Eastern Classical Festival, and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Music in Jerusalem, and collaborated on an original song project called among others. She has served as the music director of Congregation “Painted Wood” with musician Israel Mizrachi. She has worked as a Ansche Chesed in New York City since 2004. She is also the founding ritual leader and educator at Lab/Shul, New Shul, B’nai Jeshurun, and conductor of the AC Jewish Community Chorus, Shirei Chesed, and Temple Emanu-El (San Francisco). As part of her JTS studies, she found the Brooklyn Jewish Community Chorus, Shir Chadash. Ordained by purpose and meaning working as a chaplain at New York Presbyterian the Academy for Jewish Religion in 1999, Hazzan Hirschhorn has served Hospital, and as the student clergy intern at Fort Tryon Jewish Center on the faculty of both the H. L. Miller Cantorial School of The Jewish in Washington Heights for the 2019–2020 year. She currently serves as Theological Seminary and at the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred the student cantor at Oheb Shalom in South Orange, New Jersey. She is Music of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. married to Noah Ginsburg, who works in solar energy, and they have two children, Maayan and Raz.

AKIRA ISHIGURO

JOYCE ROSENZWEIG Guitarist Akira Ishiguro studied jazz performance and composition at Berklee Joyce Rosenzweig is an internationally College of Music. Since graduating in 2006, recognized pianist, conductor, master class he has been entrenched in the New York City presenter, lecturer, coach, arranger, and jazz scene. He has six albums as a leader or authority on Jewish art and synagogue music. co-leader and has appeared on over twenty She has performed in concerts throughout records. He has shared the stage with Myron Walden, Nate Smith, Ari the United States, Europe, Canada, and Hoenig, Mark Guiliana, Maria Schneider, Jason Lindner, Henry Hey, Will Israel, and is a dedicated educator of cantors and synagogue musicians, Vinson, John Zorn, George Garzone, Christian McBride, Joe Martin, having served for over 25 years on the faculty of Debbie Friedman Matt Penman, Seamus Blake, and many more. School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she holds the title of Faculty Artist in Jewish Music and Tour life has taken him to Japan, Chile, Costa Rica, Canada, and much Performance. She has been a faculty member at H. L. Miller Cantorial of Europe. Ishiguro’s accolades include grand prize in the 2013 Wilson School since 2004 and has served as music director of Congregation Center Guitar Festival and Competition, and first prize “Public’s Choice” Beit Simchat Torah in Manhattan since 1994. Ms. Rosenzweig studied as well as overall second place in the 2009 Gibson guitar competition as piano performance at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Manhattan part of the Montreux Jazz Festival. School of Music; choral conducting at Westminster Choir College; Yiddish at Oxford University and JTS; and art song and chamber music at the Banff Centre of the Arts (Canada), Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Music Festival, and Franz Schubert Institute (Vienna), where she was awarded first prize in lieder accompaniment. She has collaborated in chamber music recitals with ensembles from the New York Philharmonic and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and appeared as soloist with the New Orleans Philharmonic and Texas Festival Orchestra under the baton of Leon Fleisher. Her new CD with Cantor David Berger, Refuge, a collection of art songs by Jewish-American refugee composers, is due to be released in the coming months.

4 PROGRAM NOTES AND When we go out together TRANSLATIONS FOR You’ll wear the purple dress ELIANA KISSNER RECITAL And your eyes will again be flooded in faint light You’ll send a smile to everyone who passes by Harbstlid And a violet will suddenly bloom in your hair (Music and Lyrics: Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, You’ll sing a song who’s words you’ve forgotten arr. Joyce Rosenzweig) You’ll laugh suddenly and won’t know why When we go out together Born in Vienna and eventually settling in the Bronx, Beyle Schaechter- Gottesman was an icon of Yiddish folk music and Yiddish culture in New York. Linda Lipitsky describes this selection as “a plaintive yet uplifting Ahavat Olam meditation on deferred dreams.” (Music: Morris Barash; Lyrics: Siddur)

See, it’s fall — Composed by Morris Barash (1903–1977), this “Ahavat Olam” fuses And all that greened has yellowed, withered. a traditional Ashkenazi cantorial style with European art song and See, it’s fall — congregational singing. This seamless melding of several styles into And all that bloomed is gone . . . one piece is a testament to the role of the cantor as a clergy person And I who thought that spring would last forever, who simultaneously holds space for tradition, innovation, high art, and And in my hand I hold communal singing. Barash was a fixture in the New York Jewish music Eternity. scene as a composer and conductor. He joined the faculty of the School of Oho, falling leaves! Sacred Music at HUC-JIR in 1955. Oho, flying days! With timeless love, Oho, how will I wander now, You have loved Your people, the house of Israel: When thick fog settles on my way . . . You have taught us Torah and mitzvot, Sadly cawing birds statutes and laws. Say: “Good-bye!” Therefore, Adonai, our God, as we lie down and as we rise up, we shall At the window speak of Your laws, The moaning, wailing wind: rejoicing in the words of Your Torah “I wish that I could get away from here and in Your mitzvot forever and ever. To a shore For they are our life and the fullness of our days, Where there is still a green spring . . . .” and on them we shall meditate day and night.

Oho, falling . . . Rachem Na Driving rain (Music: Yossele Rosenblatt; Lyrics: Siddur) Gallops on a wild horse, Whispers secret love into my ear: Yossele Rosenblatt (1882–1933) is considered one of the greatest, if not “Why do you need to wait for springtime the greatest, cantor of his generation. He spent much of his international When autumn offers baskets full of gold?” career in the United States doing pulpit work and concertizing. I dedicate my rendition of Rossenblatt’s “Rachem Na” to Perele Feig, a khazzante (female cantor) who had a career of concerts, recordings, and radio shows HaSimla HaSegula before women could be pulpit cantors. Her legacy, along with other great (Music: Alexander [Sasha] Argov; Lyrics: Haim Hefer) khazzantes, has allowed me to access and find my own way into the beautiful art of the cantorial music we call khazzanus. In this year where many of us find ourselves daydreaming about plans unrealized and trips not taken, I wanted to include this Israeli song, “The Have mercy, Lord our God, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Purple Dress,” which describes a hypothetical dream-like sequence of Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the a couple in love and going about the city. Israeli singer Ilana Rovina house of David Your anointed, and upon the great and holy House over popularized this song with her rendition of it in 1959. She passed away in which Your Name was proclaimed. Our God, our Father, nourish us, October 2020 at the age of 86. sustain us, feed us, and provide us with plenty; and speedily, Lord our God, grant us relief from all our afflictions. Lord our God, please do The morning will come, the morning will come not make us dependent upon the gifts of mortal men nor upon their We won’t sleep the whole night before loans, but only upon Your full, open, holy, and generous hand, that we We’ll sit beside the street on the edge of the canal may never be shamed or disgraced. And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city We’ll ride on a truck in the evening air speedily in our days. Blessed are You, Lord, Who in His mercy rebuilds We’ll see the hills waking up in purple light Jerusalem. Your house will be laughing and summer in the window 5 How to Die: Songs of Midrash Mishlei He said to them: Israel, my children, forgive me for all the trouble I’ve (Music: Eliana Kissner; Lyrics: Midrash Mishlei) made for you. They said to him: Moses, our teacher, You are forgiven. You are forgiven. a. Her Beloved Soul And then they said to him: Moses, forgive us for all the anger we’ve b. Blessed incited in you. c. You Are Forgiven He said to them: My children, You are forgiven, You are forgiven. They came to him and said: “Dear goddess! Face-up again against the renewal of vows. Just half a moment remains from when you will leave this world. Do not let me die a coward, mother. Nor forget how to sing. He took both his hands, put them on his heart, and crying, he said: Nor forget song is a part of mourning as light is a part of sun.” Indeed, my two hands who received the Torah from the mouth of the —Audre Lorde All Powerful now fall into the grave. Dedication: This project is dedicated to all those who have died in the COVID-19 pandemic. May the fullness of their lives never be forgotten, may their Ay Sinyora Novia families be comforted, and may their memories bring continuous light into (Music and lyrics: Ladino folk song) the world. The following two songs are in Ladino; the first is a traditional wedding The text: song with an unknown composer/lyricist. The text of the second song, The text of these songs comes from Midrash Mishlei, a commentary “Me Kemi y Me Enflami,” is by the singer Victoria Hazan, and the melody on the book of Proverbs that includes several death stories of Jewish was written by her collaborator, Nick Doneff. Coming from a family of historical/cultural figures. Each song represents a different death: Elisha cantors, Hazan was born in Turkey and came to New York in 1920. She ben Abuya, Rabbi Akiva, and Moses. Though these are stories of lived in the Bronx, gave concerts, recorded Turkish-Jewish music, and individuals, their narratives, be they real or imagined, speak to universal was the president of the United Sisterhood Benevolent Society. She human experiences of death. In setting them to music, I attempted to contributed to the vibrance of New York Jewish musical culture and her draw a musical picture of what these stories mean to me and the different music continues to be performed, reinterpreted, and studied today. aspects of the death experience that they capture. I find them beautiful, Oh my bride come down inspiring, terrifying, and affirming. Whether you have been close to oh my bride come down, someone who passed away, have had a near-death experience yourself, or I can’t, I can’t because I am getting dressed, feel that death is near for you or for a loved one, I invite you to read and dressed in my gown for my groom. listen to the following excerpts from Midrash Mishlei, translated by Rabbi Oh my bride come down Burton Visotsky. I hope you find as much meaning in them as I have. oh my bride come down, Her Beloved Soul I can’t, I can’t because I’m brushing, The last loaf of bread will go for a harlot; A married woman will snare a brushing my hair for my groom. person of honor Bride, when you see your beloved Why won’t you repent? bride, when you see your beloved, My decree is sealed from Above take him by the hand, bring him beside you My teacher! Atone in this world and I will stand in this decree before He wants servitude. your executioner in the world to come.

Despite this [offer], Elisha did repent. For the sake of a prostitute . . . she is a valuable soul! Me Kemi y Me Enflami And a married woman is a precious soul (Music: Nick Doneff; Lyrics: Victoria Hazzan) A free woman is a precious soul An adulterous woman is a valuable soul I was burned and began to blaze when I saw you. When I hear you sing, Blessed you sound to me like a nightingale. They laid Rabbi Akiva on the bed. Immediately, they lit a lamp and set Come to my side, come I beg you. the table. In the same hour, they said: Come faster, you jewel, for I shall go mad. Blessed are the bearers of the Torah Blessed are those in awe of the Universe Your eyes that look into my heart are burning me. Blessed are you Rabbi Akiva How many souls will be burned by your glances? That the good resting place was found for you Come to my side, come I beg you. At the hour of your death Come faster, you jewel, for I shall go mad.

You Are Forgiven They [Israel] came to him and said: The time has come for you to leave this world.

6 TRANSLATIONS FOR CHORAL PIECES

Modim Anachnu Lach (Music: Natasha Hirschhorn; Lyrics: Siddur)

We thank You, for You are ever our God and the God of our ancestors; You are the bedrock of our lives, the shield that protects us in every generation. We thank You and sing Your praises— for our lives that are in Your hands, for our souls that are under Your care, for Your miracles that accompany us each day, and for Your wonders and Your gifts that are with us each moment—evening, morning, and noon. You are the one who is good, whose mercy is never-ending; the one who is compassionate, whose love is unceasing. We have always placed our hope in You. For all these blessings may Your name be praised and exalted, our sovereign, always and forever. May all that lives thank You always, and faithfully praise Your name forever, God of our deliverance and help. Blessed are You, Adonai, Your name is goodness and praise of You is fitting.

Yah Ribon Olam (Music: Robbie Solomon; Lyrics: Israel Najara)

God of this and all worlds, You are Supreme, the Sovereign God, Your mighty, wondrous work moves my heart to praise You. Evening and morning I praise You, holy God who forms all beings: angels and mortals, beasts and birds. Great are Your works, and mighty, You humble the proud, and lift up those who are bowed down. Were we to live a thousand years, there would not be time enough to tell of Your might!

7 John Dellheim (z”l) was a Holocaust survivor who became a pioneer computer programmer at IBM. He deeply loved Judaism and Jewish music and endowed the John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Internship Program and Concert Series to bring Western cantorial music around the United States via the mentors, alumni, and students of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School, thereby perpetuating the performance and transmission of Jewish sacred music to future generations.

The John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Endowment Fund initiative includes an internship program that pairs students with mentors in the field, and expands the school’s opportunities to teach concert planning, enhance repertoire coaching, and present student performances.