Paradise lost and found in Jerusalem
Three Israeli musicians will be performing concerts in New Delhi and Katmandu at official celebrations of Israel’s 61st Independence Day
Recorder players Michael Melzer, Yael Shimshoni-Melzer and percussionist Adam Cohen will perform works of Jewish composers from the 14th to 20th centuries, lively medieval dances and some Baroque chamber music. The concert carries a message of tolerance and non-violence.
What is the connection between Paradise Lost and these concerts? The program was inspired by the Renaissance belief that musical sounds could change people and create a better society, symbolized by the “Celestial Jerusalem”. The city of Jerusalem might bring the three monotheistic religions together as in the Golden Age of Spain, when Muslims, Christians and Jews flourished together in artistic- and scientific creativity.
The anonymous Spanish 14th century Istampita “Tre Fontane” (Three Fountains) they will play represents this very idea. Michael Melzer’s belief is that music is the best vehicle for promoting tolerance and cooperation as it encourages people listen to each other.
An interesting item in the program will be Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro’s basse dance “La Spagna”. Also known as Benjamin Guglielmo, he was a Jewish dancing master who flourished in the 15th century at Pesaro, Italy. Those enjoying virtuoso recorder music will enjoy hearing Jacob van Eyck’s “The Nightingale” for solo recorder, composed in Holland in 1644.
German Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was, himself, a fine recorder player; his Sonata in D minor for Two Recorders will delight the senses of those who like the elegance of Baroque music, as will Bach’s (1685-1750) Duetto for Two Recorders.
Israeli works performed will be Joachim Stutschewsky’s (1891-1982) “Romance” (1956) and Michael Melzer’s own arrangement of Nachum Nardi and Matityahu Shelem’s “Shepherd Songs of the Galilee”. Melzer’s hope that the timbre of wooden recorders producing sounds evoking those of nature, as were enjoyed by shepherds and shepherdesses in ancient legendary Arcadia, will blend with the rhythms of a drum to offer a bridge between east and west, a bridge of universal harmony.
Highly reputed recorder player Professor Michael Melzer is deputy head of academic studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, records, performs widely and teaches; he has served as musical director of the Voice of Music Festival of the Upper Galilee since 2000.
Yael Melzer-Shimshoni is one of Israel’s leading recorder players and a member of Trio Alla Moderna and the Melzer Recorder Consort. In addition to performing, Shimshoni-Melzer teaches at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
Percussionist Adam Cohen (b.1982) is currently completing his studies in Jazz at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He records, performs and teaches Jazz and African music.
