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The world premiere of
Higid L'cha
Steve Cohen
Zemer Chai's 40th Anniversary Concert
June 5, 2016 at Adas Israel Congregation
commissioned by Eileen and Larry Kugler
in loving memory of their parents,
Edith & Milton Gale and Phyllis & Leo Kugler
"The music for “Higid L’cha” is my response to Eleanor Epstein’s thoughtful selection of texts. The prophet Micah exhorts us to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly,” and these precepts are illustrated and amplified by
relevant passages from Leviticus and Isaiah. My task was to create a structure that would present the text in a compelling way, and to convey the moods of the messages conveyed. To me, the centerpiece is the passage from Leviticus 19:33-34, “And when strangers sojourn among you, do not wrong them…” This is a most important statement, especially today. I highlighted this section by making it an oasis of lyricism amid all the more driving rhythms of the rest of the piece." ~ Steve Cohen
VeHeyei Sham/Shehecheyanu
Benjie Ellen Schiller
featuring Benjie Ellen Schiller
The North American Jewish Choral Festival
July 11, 2016
A beautiful new setting of Shehecheyanu. The melody, composed for Rabbi Jeffrey Zirkman, was arranged for Zemer Chai as a 40th anniversary gift. It is preceded by VeHeyei Sham, written for the HUC-JIR Rabbinical and Cantorial graduating class of 2015.
recorded live at the 27th North American Jewish Choral Festival
Video by Larry Sandberg
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To hear audio excerpts from past concerts, visit our Past Performances page.