Composing

Original Music

The first creative act I remember doing was writing a song, I was four. It was a song about the changing seasons. At the time we still hadn’t learnt about autumn and spring, so the song, only had winter and summer in it.

When the days are short and the nights are long

that’s when winter is near

When the snow falls down and the birds fly away

that’s when winter is near

 

When the days are long and the nights are short

that’s when summer is near

When the birds come back and the snow melts away

that’s when summer is near

I remember devising at the time a system for remembering notes by using little lines one to remember the height of a note.

It took me many long years until I really mastered clefs and keys and notation. I still use the line system as a cantor, when I write little reminders in the prayer book above and within the text to jog my memory.

Since, I have composed many songs, woven words into melody and melody into words. My need for singing is primordial. I cannot imagine composing a piece that is not ultimately created for my voice. I create songs as if they were dresses to wear. They have to be beautiful, comfortable interesting and allow freedom of movement. They are tailor fit to my voice. These are my gifts to myself, though some have found their way into congregations and anthologies, which of course is an endless source of joy.

Links:

Yalda Sheli, for my daughter Lily’s  Batmitsvah

Ir Yalduti, from cd Haifa Awakens From a Dream, won prize from Haifa municipality 2016

Shabat Yoredet al Ha’ir Haifa, words Yehonadav Perlman, from cd Haifa Awakens From a Dream

Esa Einai, from cd M’Ayin Yavo, Shalshelet 2008 Festival Concert

Lamdeini Elohai, from cd M’Ayin Yavo, Shalshelet 2010 Festival Concert

Yedid Nefesh from Shalshelet 2013 Festival

A Leaf  Written for voice and doublebass

Safsal – poem by Navit Barel

Hasidot – poem of Smadar Imor

“Bli Kol” –  for voice viola , violin and cello – score

received honorary mention in Itay Weiner composition competition 2013