Zemer Chai, The Jewish Chorale of the Nation's Capital, performs Dayeinu by Gerald Cohen

Dayeinu

Excerpts from the powerful "An American Kedusha" by iconic choral composer Alice Parker.  With soloists Cantor Asa Fradkin and Natasha Hirschhorn

May 9, 2018 rehearsal with guest soloists

American Kedusha - with guest soloists

Zemer Chai rehearses Psalm 128 set by Salamone Rossi in the 16th Century, for performance at its June 10, 2018 concert.  Rossi was the first known composer of Jewish choral music. The concert featured works from Rossi to 20th and 21st century noted composers, along with premieres of two works by contemporary composers.

May 30, 2018 rehearsal

Psalm 128 - Rossi

Recording from Zemer Chai's album: "Same Earth, Same Sky"
        English translation with transliteration of Hebrew lyrics below

Whenever I find myself lost, 
without direction,
in my heart, like an amulet, 
I always keep a little song: 

These are the birth pangs of redemption!  
It is coming even today!

There are those who sing 
from across the silence.
Their lips may not be moving, 
but their voices will be heard. 

Sometimes I absorb blow after blow
And when things are bad, 
when life is bitter, 
especially then I sing: 

Should I reach my home 
near the cypress grove,
someone will offer me water, 
and with all my strength, I will still sing:
 
ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION OF HEBREW LYRICS
Ka-asher ani holech 
b'li ayin uv'li an
al libi, k'mo kamea
yesh li kol haz'man shir katan 

    Che-v'-lei ma-shi-ach hi-neh zeh bah!
    hineh zeh bah ha-yom!

Yesh ka-eleh she-sharim 
me-ever lad’mamah.
Sif-te-hem u-lai einan na-ot,
aval kolam yi-shamah.

Lif'amim ani sofeg makah achar makah
uch'sherah li, 
uch'shemar li,
az ani davkah shar li kach: 

Im agia el habayit 
etsel habroshim
mishehu yagish li mayim
v'-kichlot kochi od ashir:

Same Earth Same Sky

Chevelei Mashiach by Naomi Shemer

Zemer Chai performs "Hold On" with Ysaye Barnwell, noted African-American singer and composer at our 2011 concert, "I am Determined to Walk in Freedom."

HOLD ON - Zemer Chai with Ysaye Barnwell

This Sephardic tale champions critical women in the Passover story - the midwives who saved baby Moses and many others by ignoring Pharoah's decree to throw all Jewish newborn boys into the Nile.

Par’o Era Estrellero 					Turkey                         
							arr. Eleanor Epstein
Pharaoh was a stargazer.
He went out one night to look at the moon.
He saw a divine star 
foretelling that Moses would be born.

He commanded that the midwives be called — 
all that were in Egypt.
To all of them he warned: 
Don’t catch any Jewish baby boys!

The midwives were Jewish, 
beloved by God.
They caught the babies and fled, 
and so, Moses was born.

His sister, the Levite, 
made him a basket.
She covered it with pitch, 
and placed it in the Nile.

Par'o Era Estrellero  - Pharaoh was a Stargazer

Zemer Chai (“Living Song”) is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich musical heritage of the Jewish people at the highest level. Founded by conductor Eleanor Epstein in 1976, Zemer Chai today is one of the nation’s leading Jewish choirs. The choir sings the full range of Jewish choral repertoire, from classical and liturgical pieces to world Jewish folk music in multiple languages, and new works composed especially for the choir.  Praised by the Washington Post for singing “passionately with utter precision,” Zemer Chai has performed at the White House, Library of Congress, Strathmore, the Kennedy Center and in concert halls in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and in Israel. Zemer Chai takes pride in building bridges to other faiths and cultures, attracting audiences of many backgrounds and participating in numerous intercultural events.

Zemer Chai- The Jewish Chorale of Nation's Capital

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