Friday, February 3, 2012

Sing to the Lord!

Of making Jewish music there is no end, but how many contemporary composers of distinguished work in this genre have been featured on From the Top, National Public Radio's program about exceptional young musicians? Jeremiah Klarman, age thirteen when he appeared on the NPR show, may be the sole exception. Now seventeen, with a demonstrated mastery of styles from classical to klezmer, and with chamber, orchestral, and pop compositions under his belt, Klarman has turned his lavish and protean talents to choral music. A premier of his latest work, the cantata Hallel, Shir v'Or ("Praise, Song, and Light"), drawing largely on well-known verses from the book of Psalms, took place in late December at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Mass.  Performed by the Zamir Chorale of Boston under the direction of Joshua R. Jacobson, it culminates in a room-rocking, soul-lifting Halleluyah! for chorus and orchestra.

A Day in the Life  Richard Dyer,  Boston Globe.  Jeremiah Klarman spends an afternoon in 2006 with the "moved, impressed, and amazed" composer Osvald Golijov.  SAVE

Music on Jewish Themes  Jeremiah Klarman.  An annotated list.  SAVE

Halleluyah!  Jeremiah Klarman,  Zamir Chorale.  The final movement of Hallel, Shir v'Or. Listen to the first and second movements. Read the words.  SAVE

The Composer on the Music  Jeremiah Klarman.  Program notes on Hallel, Shir v'Or.  SAVE

SAVE "Sing to the Lord!"