The whole choir and the whole audience stood up and sang the national anthems of the United States (Star Spangled Banner), Israel (Hatikvah - The Hope) and Greece (To Liberty). The Greek anthem has a beautiful melody. Of course I know the first two anthems, but this is the first time I've heard the Greek.
This presentation was held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, with their choir and the Jewish Community Choir of Northern California. Actually it's a combination of the choirs of Temple Beth Shalom and of Temple B'nai Israel. On the cover of the program is a cute cartoon: A Greek solder dancing with an Israeli flag, and an Israeli dancing with a Greek flag.
This is the fourth year these combined choirs have performed together, and this is the first time I've heard of it. I am SO glad my neighbor remembered to tell me about it, although almost at the last minute. The program was called "A Greek-Jewish Experience," and what an experience it was! We also partook of lovely Greek desserts afterward.
But to the music.
The first part of the program was presented by the B'nai Israel Choir, and it consisted of Jewish music. Mah Tovu is one of the opening prayers of the morning service; starts out How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.
The second number of Hashkiveynu which describes the child's bedtime prayers, and the childrens choir accompanied the adult choir. They were darling!
The third was Oif'n Pripitshok, which describes what happens in a Hebrew school session. It's a familiar melody.
And finally, A Psalm of Praise based on Psalm 98. Oh my! I'm transported!
Then came the massed choirs. Starting with Hallelujah, Amen! from Handel's orotorio Judas Maccabeus. Wow!
Then N'ran'nah, a niggun (a wordless melody). There are several niggunim that I'm familiar with, but this one I didn't know. I liked it. More melodious than those I'm familiar with.
Lead Me By Thy Light, a setting of Psalm 137, was composed and arranged by Richard Cundick who was formerly head organist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This is a magnificent work.
Then, before the intermission, the choirs sang an arrangement of Psalm 150, by Cesar Franck. This was so beautiful I was moved to tears. Again.
All the above was directed by the B'nai Israel Cantor Carl Nalaui.
After the intermission, the Greek choir took to the risers and sang some beautiful, melodic pieces. Some emphasis was on male voices, and I particularly enjoy baritone and bass combinations. The director of the Greek choir, John Bobolis, took over at this point.
Their first number was Aetos (The Eagle). It harkened to the time when the Turks were trying to take over Greece. The Eagle referred to the Turks, but the program notes don't explain why they were referred to as Eagles. My guess is that eagles are raptors, and the Turks were trying to destroy Greece.
Then there came a Folk Song Suite of three numbers. One song was about tne misery of an unfaithful lover, asking for forgiveness, but she spurns him. The second, a young man is asking the birds to teach him their beautiful melodies so that he could express his feelings to the girl he loves. The last was about a little white church in the center of a Greek village, and its priest. This number was dedicated to Fr Dogios, the pastor of Annunciation Church. (He is retiring at the end of summer after 40 years with the congregation.)
The last song in this section of the presentation was about a lemon tree that had been planted in the winter, and the planter is praying that it will survive
These (above) numbers were separately accompanied by a flute, oboe, clarinet or santouri (sort of like a xylophone). And all sung in Greek.
The the massed choirs came together again. The first number was Lord to Thee Our Hearts Are Raised, from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, composed by Glinka.
Then, Enite, from Psalms "Praise God in the Highest." And my heart soared!
In The Shelter of Thy Wings is based on Psalms and the text is a prayer of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Then, a very charming little tune from the 16th Century: There Is A Ladye, from Musicke of Sundrie Kindes by Thomas Ford, who was a lutenist and court musician to Henry, Prince of Wales a later Charles I of England.
The last number that I could have been happy hearing over and over was a Negro Spiritual I Hear A Voice A-Prayin'. Composed by Houston Bright who was an arranger for the Fred Waring Chorus.
All these songs were beautifully melodic, and the voice blended perfectly. I have noticed in choirs, there is frequently a voice (usually a soprano) that seems to dominate the whole choir, but these voices blended so beautifully that all the sopranos sounded as one voice, as did the altos, tenors and basses. A finely tuned choir!
I've left out a lot of description here, but I think you get the idea of what I heard this afternoon. And I could have stayed another two hours!
I will surely be watching the "entertainment" section of the paper for next year's performance.
Shalom