Music of Our Roots

SKU: GI.G-DVD-919

UPC: 785147839194.

With the ever-increasing Asian presence within American Christian communities, church musicians who serve these communities will do well to explore the musical roots of the diverse cultures represented therein. To date there has been no tool to assist in this musical study that approaches the accessibility, diversity, comprehensiveness and appeal of this DVD recording of the great teacher, I-to Loh, at work. Experience the beauty of indigenous hymnody from China, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines and other Asian cultures, each with their unique scales,  melodic structure, ornamentation and accompaniment styles. Though sung primarily in English, some pieces incorporate easily sung phrases in original languages, printed phonetically. The scores for all of the music taught and performed on this DVD are included in a set of downloadable PDF files. These may be reproduced without further permission for study purposes. To reproduce multiple copies for performance, go to OneLicense.net,  or contact the publisher.   “First came Sound the Bamboo—music on paper from the pioneering work of I-to Loh across Asia.  Then came its hymnal companion, giving us more of his thinking, with wisdom, stories, and passion.   And now, the next best step: a DVD with songs come to life in sight and sound with teaching by I-to Loh.  The testimonies also will inspire those who seek the unity of the church by honoring these treasures from the East that will bless churches everywhere.” Emily R. Brink Senior Research Fellow Calvin Institute of Christian Worship  .

SKU: HL.50605353

ISBN 9781705180310. UPC: 196288106210.

Dá niel Dobos (* 1994) studied with Gyula Fekete and Máté Bella at the Department of Composition of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. In his violin concerto Sylvanus, he uses the technical repertoire of Transylvanian folk violinists. His piano piece, Drumul dracului, which won the first prize in 2018 at the Béla Bartók World Competition, also focuses on a new interpretation of Transylvanian folk music roots. In Callis stellarum, Dobos set one of the apocalyptic visions by the prophet Isaiah: “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” At the end of the composition, the Hungarian folk song “Csillagok, csillagok” (Stars and Stars) is heard as a kind of hopeful association. Commissioned by the municipality of Debrecen, this piece won the first prize in the youth mixed choir category of the HangKELTO Youth Composition Competition held in 2021.

SKU: OT.26114

ISBN 9789655051049. 8.27 x 11.69 inches.

Ariel Lazarus
Guitarra Liturgia
Two pieces based on music from the Spanish and Portuguese tradition.
Contents:
Jerusalem de Sefarad - Suite for Guitar
Contrapunto Sefardi
The composer writes:
For many years I wanted to compose a piece for guitar which would inspire interested students to expand their repertoire in the direction of Jewish music. The most natural thing for me was to write a suite based on themes from the synagogue in which I grew up – the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue of Gibraltar. My beloved grandfather served all his life as hazzan (cantor) of this synagogue, and I always felt as a composer and educator that I had a special obligation to continue his tradition and pass it on to a new generation. In this composition, I let the guitar echo the piyyutim (semi-liturgical poems) that were part of my childhood: Adon Olam, Sh'charchoret, Achot K'tana, Yigdal, Borei ad Ana, all of which are sung in the Spanish and Portuguese tradition from Gibraltar to London, and from New York to Jerusalem. I let myself dream the piyyutim, take them apart and reconstruct them as a short suite for guitar, the results of which you are invited to hear here. As a conceptual idea for the suite, I choose to suggest about the cultural continuation between the Diaspora and the land of Israel by way of referencing the well-known melody of Naomi Shemer, which is also popular among the hazzanim.
Dr. Ariel Lazarus is a unique voice among Israeli composer-performers today. Brought up in a family with Jewish musical roots both in Gibraltar and Westphalia, he began composing and playing the guitar in his teens, and has been committed to developing his own compositional language ever since, always maintaining an open dialogue with his traditions.
Lazarus received his BMus and MMus degrees from Oklahoma City University in classical guitar performance and composition where he studied with American composer Dr. Edward Knight. He earned his PhD from Bar Ilan University, studying composition with Prof. Betty Olivero and Prof. Gideon Lewensohn and conducting research under the supervision of Prof. Edwin Seroussi from the Hebrew University. His symphonic works have been premiered by the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, and his chamber works have been performed by various ensembles in the United States, Central Europe, Portugal, Gibraltar, Scandinavia and Israel. Lazarus performs regularly as Art Ambassador on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora affairs Amiel BaKehila program.
His solo album A Hebrew Capriccio was released by the German boutique label SmoothFactor and was awarded critical acclaim, among others, in Haaretz, and Neue Westfalishe.
Dr. Lazarus is the musical director and co-founder of the Israeli Ladino Orchestra. His work with the orchestra has been recognized by the official Carta de España. He teaches at the Academic College for Education Givat Washington, and the Rimon School of Music. Lazarus’s work has been awarded by the Israeli Pais Art council and ACUM.

SKU: CL.RWS-1932-00

The holy night of Christmas is celebrated in many cultures throughout the world. Robert W. Smith gives us a new arrangement of the classic carol O Holy Night in a Celtic style. Following a beautiful introductory statement, the Irish musical roots come to the fore through percussion and flutes as they create an Irish jig. The clarinets present the melody in the beautiful chalumeau register juxtaposed against the jig. The arrangement builds throughout leading to a very exciting conclusion that is decidedly an Irish celebration. Very highly recommended!

SKU: CL.RWS-1932-01

The holy night of Christmas is celebrated in many cultures throughout the world. Robert W. Smith gives us a new arrangement of the classic carol O Holy Night in a Celtic style. Following a beautiful introductory statement, the Irish musical roots come to the fore through percussion and flutes as they create an Irish jig. The clarinets present the melody in the beautiful chalumeau register juxtaposed against the jig. The arrangement builds throughout leading to a very exciting conclusion that is decidedly an Irish celebration. Very highly recommended!

SKU: HL.14072732