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Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish SpiritCD Release Oct. 28th, 2014 • Available for order on Amazon: Buy Now • Available for order on iTunes: Buy Now • Download our Press Release • Huffington Post on Cherished Momentson November 17th, 2014: PDF of Review |
CHERISHED MOMENTS: SONGS OF THE JEWISH SPIRIT, a new CD on Sono Luminus (DSL-92182), was released on October 28, 2014 with Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Clurman with soloists Ron Raines, Bruce Ruben and Michael Slattery. This new CD combines the expertise born of Judith Clurman’s thirty years as a prominent conductor with memories of her own childhood in synagogue and an intimate knowledge of this poignant repertoire to create the unique recording Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit.
The recording introduces exciting arrangements of traditional songs that represent the Jewish holidays and life cycle events from the centerpiece Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah, a cycle for chorus, soloists and orchestra that premiered at Carnegie Hall, to the 19th-century lyrical classicism of Louis Lewandowski and Emanuel Kirschner, to works by folk artist Debbie Friedman, cantor-composer Bruce Ruben, and Canadian composer Ben Steinberg. The recording also features important new works, among them a minimalist setting of Set Me as a Seal by Nico Muhly, Larry Hochman’s Shomeir Yisrael, and Paul Schoenfield’s Al Hanisim, all written for Ms. Clurman. The recording features the singers of Essential Voices USA and renowned guest instrumentalists, including composers Larry Hochman and Paul Schoenfield accompanying their own works.
Judith Clurman conducting EVUSA. Photo © Richard Termine.Used with permission. Nico Muhly says “Judith Clurman’s Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit is a wonderful compilation of Jewish sacred music spanning several centuries. Some is original, some folk-derived, and some a combination. This disc is a celebration of a long-unbroken tradition, and I am honored to have a work of mine included in it. The music on this well-curated disc is exuberant, introspective, forceful, and solemn.” “The mix of traditional songs in multiple moods and tones, handsomely adapted arranged by Clurman and some laudable colleagues, are beautifully sung with sweet yet profound emotion and gorgeously homogenous choral sound.” “Judith Clurman is a skillful conductor. The performances of each selection have to be recognized as the platinum standard with which other performances will have to be judged. ” “Well-performed collections of Jewish music don’t cross the transom every day, so it’s a pleasure to complement the annual barrage of Christian and secular holiday recordings with Judith Clurman’s “Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit.” This disc is a Hanukkah gift that will keep on giving. ” |
TRACK LISTING ENOSH — Louis Lewandowski — adapted Larry Hochman OSEH SHALOM — Debbie Friedman — arranged Sally Lamb McCune SET ME AS A SEAL — Nico Muhly V’ERASTICH LI — (soloist: Michael Slattery) — Ben Steinberg M’CHALKEIL CHAYIM* — Solomon Braslavsky — arranged Bruce Ruben * instrumental interlude SONGS OF FREEDOM: A CELEBRATION OF CHANUKAH — (soloist: Ron Raines) — Traditional Melodies — arranged Larry Hochman, Judith Clurman, Brian Stokes Mitchell TZADIK KATAMAR — Emanuel Kirschner — arranged Larry Hochman KADEISH URCHATZ* — Babylonian Chant — * instrumental interlude CIRCLE OF LIFE — (soloist: Bruce Ruben) — Bruce Ruben — arranged Larry Hochman BORUKH ATE ZINGT DER TATE — Solomon Golub — arranged Zalmen Mlotek AL HANISIM — Paul Schoenfield MEDITATION — Larry Hochman SHOMEIR YISRAEIL — Larry Hochman HAN’SHAMA LACH* — Traditional Melody — arranged Judith Clurman * instrumental interlude |
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