Jewish Choral Music [Nigun]

In 1955, conductor Gary Bertini founded the Rinat Choir, thereby establishing professional choral music in Israel. The founding of Rinat had a major influence on the development of the Israeli choral scene; the choir was eventually named the National Choir in 1972. Leading composers in the country set psalms, verses, and hymns to music for the Rinat Choir, transforming them into extensive Hebrew motets and oratorios. The founding generation of Israeli music consisted of outstanding professional musicians who were born in Europe around the turn of the century. Although these composers came predominantly from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Russia, their sources of inspiration cannot be reduced solely to the music of their respective countries of origin. On the contrary: What united many of these composers was their fascination with traditional Jewish music, particularly of Sephardic, Persian, and Yemeni origin, and with the music of the Arabs they encountered in Palestine. The subsequent generation of Israeli composers was not necessarily born in Israel, but was musically shaped by the country from the very beginning. In the 1960s and 70s, this generation spread its inspiring sources and drew on contemporary styles they had encountered during their studies in Europe and the United States. While some members of this generation continued the tradition of the founding generation, other composers introduced contemporary developments in the world of music to Israeli art music of their time. The range of influences was also expanded to include American composers such as Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, John Cage, and Lukas Foss. Yuval Weinberg brings us closer to this sonorous music with the SWR Vocal Ensemble.