Here’s a photo of me and Haim Avitsur (shofar/ trombone soloist for Tekeeyah) relaxing after the last session for Tekeeyah. Haim was leaving that afternoon to go back to Prague and prepare for his early morning flight back to the US. I still had 3 sessions of recordings coming up–devoted to the Symphony No. 1 […]
Tisha B’Av–the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av
Today is Tisha b’Av, a fast day in the Jewish calendar in which we remember the destructions of holiness in the world, symbolized by the destructions of the Temples in Jerusalem, but extending to all the ways in which we turn away from holiness and cause suffering. This morning I was reading the book for […]
Remembering the Maharal, after Shabbat, July 17
Our first Shabbat home after the Czech Republic trip. Last two Shabbatot we were in Prague, and attended services at the oldest synagogue in Europe, the Altneuschul (Old-New Shul), which dates from 1270. It was awesome to be there, and especially to feel the presence of the Maharal, the great rabbi of Prague from the […]
Following up with Christoph Eschenbach
OK. I wrote my letter to Christoph Eschenbach and my publisher, Joe Derhake at Keiser Music, sent him the score of Symphony No. 1 Living Breathing Earth. I’ll let you all know when he tells me he’s performing it. Ha, ha. But at least it’s on it’s way. Now on to other things. But first, […]
Wlid Wonders of Europe photography exhibit in Prague
One of the neat surprises about being in Prague after the sessions was viewing the outdoor photography exhibit, Wild Wonders of Europe. You can see these amazing photos online at their website: http://www.wild-wonders.com/exhibition_prague.asp Wouldn’t it be great to have a performance of the Symphony Living Breathing Earth alongside this exhibit? One can dream, right??
Video from recording session in Olamouc
Tekeeyah opening rehearsal Moravian Phil (oops–had trouble viewing this–will try to replace it)
more on recording Tekeeyah
Am posting video of opening of concerto. The orchestra is just rehearsing, getting ready to push the red “record” button. Some sections of the orchestra are whispering into their instruments, and Haim is whispering into the shofar. Others are just whispering, and the strings are making glissandi on high overtones to contribute to the ethereal […]
Getting shofar through Customs
Didn’t have a chance to write in much detail about recording sessions. As you know, Haim arrived late on Monday evening –was delayed about 12 hours en route. One unforeseen issue was getting the shofar through customs!! He had to go through customs in Brussels because of changing terminals between flights, and they thought his […]
side trip to Slovakia
Went to Slovakia to visit Timotea Vrablova, translator/publicist from 2005 recording and concert in Bratislova, when we made CD Streams in the Desert with Slovak Radio Symphony and Philharmonic Chorus. Sam and I had a delightful three days with Timi! Rented a car and drove out to countryside (Terchova), hiked in Fatra National Park—beautiful!! And […]
Mahler’s 5th at Dvorak Hall in Prague
Sunday night we went to Dvorak Hall and heard Christoph Eshenbach conduct his Holstein festival orchestra (like the Tangle wood orchestra) Mahler’s 5th Symphony. We were sitting on the 8th row, dead center. It was the most amazing experience of Mahler! Eschenbach conducted from memory, and every nuance was in him and expressed seamlessly by […]
Jewish Prague
Spent today in Jewish section of Prague. Very moving to visit grave of the MAHARAL, the famous Rabbi Loew who is said to have created the Golem and is associated with other miracles as well. As is the custom at the grave of a tzaddik (righteous person), I took some time to pray, asking that […]
recorded Symphony no 1 Living Breathing Earth!
It’s done!! The Symphony is now completely recorded! We have a lot of takes that the recording producer, Vit Muzik, will use to create the finished CD that we will continue to tweak, if needed. The orchestra did really well. During the last movt it was hard to focus on the music–it wanted to take […]
recorded Tekeeyah!!
finished recording Tekeeyah today!! Yes, Haim did make it to Olamouc. Late Monday. We were all going on coffee and adrenalin for thod takes, and by the end, got the makings of a really god recording! I LOVE the team here–fantastic recording producer, conductor, Bob Lord and Renee Dupuis of Parma are amazing, fun to […]
meeting with conductor in Olamouc
arrived in Olamouc this afternoon, met with percussionists and conductor in advance of tomorrow’s sessions. tried writing this post and it got erased! exhausted from jet lag, lack of sleep, etc. but Olamouc is beautiful, weather is great, Renee and Bob from Parma are wonderful, percussionists liked my instruments (Tibetan Bowl, Tingsha, cabasa from real […]
Arriving in Prague
Sam and I arrived in Prague this a.m. A little tired but glad to be here. Haim got stuck in Brussels. (Haim Avitsur is the soloist on Tekeeyah, traveling with the special shofar, and we are scheduled to start recording that tomorrow a.m.!!) But after a lot of hassle, he was finally able to get […]
Living Breathing Earth
Living Breathing Earth. My first symphony, and title of a CD we’re going to be recording in the Czech Republic next week!! We’ll also record Tekeeyah (a call), my concerto for shofar/trombone and orchestra for this CD. I can’t believe it’s almost time to go!! I don’t usually write with this many exclamation points. I […]