Charis Chamber Voices, the acclaimed vocal ensemble directed by Susanne Peck, presents "Rejoicing the Heart",
a concert of modern sacred works from the Judeo-Christian tradition. The concert program includes Ernest
Bloch's "Sacred Service" ("Avodath Hakodesh"), newly arranged for chamber orchestra and sung in Hebrew,
featuring Cantorial baritone soloist Lee Schwartz, formerly Cantor for 25 years at the Sinai Free Synagogue in
Mount Vernon. In an interesting contrast of style and yet a spirit of unity, Charis will also perform Ralph
Vaughan Williams' "Mass in G Minor", a lush a cappella masterpiece of English choral music scored for double
choir. The program also includes Samuel Barber's "Hermit Songs", modern settings of 8th to 13th Century Irish
texts sung by Soloist Susanne Peck, who is also Artistic Director of Charis Chamber Voices.
The Sacred Service (Avodath Hakodesh), dates from 1930-33. The six-note
motif G-A-C-B-A-G, heard at the very outset, and which permeates the entire
work, has been found in one of Bloch's early manuscript books, with a comment
"for a possible Jewish service" written above it. However, it was not until
1927, while a Director of the San Francisco Conservatory that he began to
make specific plans with the help of Reuben Rinder, Cantor of Temple Emmanuel
in that city. As a result of his influence Bloch two years later received a
handsome commission from Gerald Warburg (to whom the work was dedicated) to
write a Sabbath Morning Service for that Reform congregation, based upon the
text of the American Union Prayer Book for Jewish Worship. In addition Bloch
received an annual grant from the Stern family - prominent patrons of the
Arts in San Francisco - to last ten years from 1930, on condition that he
devote himself to composition exclusively. He received guidance from Cantor
Rinder (who also suggested traditional chants such as that for Tzur Yisroel
in the Jewish Ahavah Rabbah mode), and it is fascinating to see in his
copious correspondence with Rinder and others how the work germinated and
developed, once he had settled in the Swiss village of Roveredo-Capriasca,
high above Lake Lugano:
"... I have now memorized entirely the whole Service in Hebrew... I know
its significance word by word ... But what is more important, I have
absorbed it to the point that it has become mine, and as if it were the very
expression of my soul ... It has become the very text I was after since the
age of ten ... a dream of stars, of forces ... I declaim out loud, amidst
the rocks and forests in the great silence ... It has become a "private
affair" between God and me ..."
...Ernest Bloch
(Description from eroica.com, where you can
purchase a recording of this piece.)
