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newsletter 16 Autumn 2008 newsletter Musical Dialogues Edition JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE SOAS education performance information Esteemed Israeli Composer Tzvi Avni to be honoured in London The numerous outstanding Israeli performers on the international scene are well known, but as yet, the music created in the land of Musical Israel since the early part of the twentieth century, is a treasure trove still waiting to be revealed. It is a unique symbiosis of East and West and the assimilation of elements from diverse traditions, combining Dialogues the strands of Jewish traditions and Arab and Middle Eastern music British and Israeli with the use of Western approaches. Music on the Southbank Revered Israeli composer Tzvi Avni will be interviewed by Humphrey Burton and his works played in the Purcell Room on 30 November by Sunday 30 November 2008, 11am – 10pm ensembles from the Yehudi Menuhin School, Birmingham Patron of the Day Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Conservatoire, the Royal College and Trinity College of Music. The Master of the Queen’s Music evening orchestral concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall will feature the Honouree: UK premiere of Avni’s piece If This is a Man, (1998), based on poems by Tzvi Avni distinguished Israeli composer Primo Levi and sung by the outstanding Israeli soprano Sharon performed by Rostorf-Zamir with the Eden Sinfonia, conducted by Daniel Cohen. British musicians with outstanding Israeli soloists Sharon Rostorf-Zamir soprano, Rivka Golani viola and Taiseer Elias oud The symphony concert will also feature An Orkney Wedding with Drop in or stay all day for 2 chamber concerts; a Symphony concert; Sunrise by Peter Maxwell-Davies, (who will be the Patron of the Day) a talk; a film and foyer events celebrating the connections and contrasts between Israeli and the European premieres of Noam Sherriff’s Viola Concerto and and British Music. Michael Wolpe’s Concerto for Oud (Arabic lute) and Orchestra, based on Israeli and Arabic folksongs. Taiseer Elias, who heads the growing Arabic Music Department of the Jerusalem Academy, will be the oud soloist. The conductor of the Eden Sinfonia is Daniel Cohen, the prize-winning young Israeli rising Presented by the Jewish Music Institute, SOAS University of London star and protégée of Daniel Barenboim. Daniel at just 24 years old, has together with the Daniel Cohen just been appointed Resident Conductor of the Jerusalem Symphony Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Photo: Tom Fecht Orchestra. There will be free foyer music at 3.00 and 6.30pm. Booking is at the Southbank Centre 0871 663 2500. If booking for all three concerts there is a 20% discount and paid-up Friends of JMI can have 10% discount for any single concert. See cover letter on how to join the Friends of JMI. Turn to page 5 for full timetable of events. ‘Simcha on the Square Hits the Right Note’ So rang out the headline on the front page of the Jewish Chronicle – and the glowing coverage continued with colourful 2-page spreads in both the Jewish Chronicle and our Sponsors, the Jewish News Group with headlines saying ‘A Trafalgar triumph …as the third Simcha gets thousands up and dancing’ and ‘Nelson gets in the Klezmer Groove’. The Mayor of London was represented by the delightful Munira Mirza the Director of Cultural Policy. Simcha was also attended by Nicky Gavron, former Deputy Mayor, who has opened 'Simcha on the Square' for the past 2 years and is still a member of the Greater London Assembly. Walter Goldsmith, chair of Simcha, hosted a meeting with them and leaders of the Jewish Community in the VIP tent, including Henry Grunwald, President of the Board of Deputies, Thousands thronged Trafalgar Square in warm sunshine on Sunday 14 September Jeremy Newmark, the CEO of the London Leadership Council and for music and dancing at the third annual Jewish cultural festival in London Alex Goldman of the London Jewish Forum. We are thrilled to see that the Jewish world is recognising JMI’s capital, sharing our Jewish songs and dances with all Londoners. work and is celebrating Jewish culture and the people who provide it. If you go to YouTube and search for 'Simcha on the Square' - you ‘Simcha on the Square’ has in many ways transformed the community will see several little films showing the exuberance of the activity who are coming out from behind their barriers and seeing that it is and the action on the stage and screen. If you were there, please very good to be open and free, and together, in the middle of the email us your comments to [email protected]. JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE SOAS newsletter 16 Autumn 2008 Editorial 2 From the Chairman From the Director I have known Walter This IS the first issue since spring Goldsmith, for over 20 years. I 2007, and there is much to tell. am pleased to take over from JMI is still flushed with the him as Chair and I plan to success of sunny ‘Simcha on the take us forward, building on Square’ a giant celebration of the momentum he created Jewish music and dance in over the last 5 years. Trafalgar Square, drawing large It surprises me, that crowds and rave reviews in the despite all our well publicised Jewish press. It seems like the and well received activities, lights have suddenly been many of my friends have still switched on and the Jewish world not heard of the Jewish Music is at last recognising the Institute! This is something I contribution that the Culture am addressing. As I said from Sector makes to the vibrancy of the stage in Trafalgar Square Jewish life in London. – London had a great culture We now look forward to the weekend in mid September: The last night of the Proms; The JMI Jewish Culture Day on the Southbank on 30 November. Don’t Mayor’s Thames Festival and ‘Simcha on the Square’. I am looking miss the outstanding Israeli soloists and the fascinating music at more ways to increase our presence, profile and relevance. blending east and west. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is the Patron of Many people think that JMI is only about Cantorial and Klezmer the Day and we honour the esteemed Israeli composer Tzvi Avni. music – but this is merely part of the picture (and a vital part at JMI has a fine new Chairman in Jonathan Metliss, while former that). Just consider our Israeli classical music programme at the Chair, Walter Goldsmith becomes a Vice President. Jonathan has Southbank on 30 November where we are introducing the music of introduced JMI to a host of professionals keen to take the message Israeli composers in a major contribution to Israel’s sixtieth of JMI squarely into the Jewish Community and to the wider world. anniversary celebrations. Please join us there. See details on page 5. A new Outreach Officer, Francesca Ter-Berg has joined the small Consider also our setting up of a huge International Bloch and energetic JMI team with a remit to take Jewish music into Festival for 2009 – and beyond, marking the Fiftieth anniversary of schools, cafés, music clubs and universities. the composer’s death. We have established partners in SOAS, our prestigious base at the University of London, chose to Switzerland where Bloch was born; and on the West coast of the confer an Honorary Fellowship on me in July – in company with Michael USA where he died as well as in Israel and China – yes China! Here Palin and an Iranian Filmmaker. The JMI Presidents and Trustees who in the UK we will be presenting two prestigious concerts at the attended my great honour, were very moved by the graduation Wigmore Hall on 20 April and 15 July and supporting two ceremony, presided over by Baroness Kennedy. Lord Janner will soon performances of Bloch’s Sacred Service in South London in visit SOAS to see the positive Jewish studies of all kinds. February. See our listings on page 7. On the subject of SOAS, we congratulate Dr Abigail Wood, our JMI is taking a group to the Barbican on 28 October this year, to Joe Loss Lecturer in Jewish Music on being made Head of the hear Bernstein’s Kaddish Symphony with a reception hosted by Sir Music Department. Apart from giving all first year students a taste Sydney and Lady Lipworth to be addressed by Bernstein’s of Jewish music and teaching a well subscribed course on Israeli biographer Humphrey Burton. Pop – she has three MMus students – all specialising in Klezmer – We have set up with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and and a PhD student carrying on her work on Ethiopian Jewish Dance the JMI British-Israel Musical Exchange programme for music, all supported by a Mildred Loss Studentship. students and professors. We invite you to subscribe to this On the international scene, Laoise Davidson our Head of important initiative. When there is talk of boycotts against Israeli Communications has been invited to Berlin to give Jewish music academics – I believe this is a programme worth supporting. To workshops at the International Conference of Liberal Judaism. And subscribe contact JMI on 020 8909 2445 I have been invited to be on the Advisory Board of an International I look forward to making all this amazing original and Jewish Cultural Association and to attend and be a panellist in the groundbreaking activity known to a wider public. Perhaps we could ‘Schmooze’ Conference in New York in January. recruit some popular Jewish artists such as Itzhak Perlman – or Many young musicians and organisations are reaching out to Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Craig David to champion our the Jewish Music Institute for advice, education, stimulation and activity.

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