Tomorrow night marks the end of Hanukkah this year, and I was fortunate enough to enjoy a newly-released cd of music fit for the celebration of lights just before it ends. Judith Clurman has released an album entitled Cherished Moments that is certainly to be cherished. It is 54 minutes long, but I enjoyed it so much, and I was so motivated by the diversity of the musical selections that I listened to it twice this morning. Here is a sneak peek from Judith Clurman's webpage:
Musical selections include: Han'Shama Lach, Oseh Shalom, Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah (arr by Larry Hochman, Judith Churman, Brian Stokes Mitchell), Set Me As A Seal, and a Babylonian chant, Kadeish Urchatz. I love how the album begins with an adaptation of Louis Lewandowski's Enosh, adapted by Larry Hochman; it is serene, a little austere, and deeply sincere. Amidst the traditional favorites, Set Me as a Seal by Nico Muhly, Larry Hochmans Shomeir Yisrael, and Paul Schoenfields Al Hanisim give listeners a taste of lovely, choral minimalism. The orchestration throughout the album lends to a sense of storytelling as well as internal change. Composers Larry Hochman and Paul Schoenfield accompany their own work as guest instrumentalists. Of course, Essential Voices USA is the main exhibit, and they carry the torch well. One of the most intriguing parts of the album for me is the Babylonian chant realized for solo violin; it is haunting and incredibly brief. It lasts only 57 seconds, but it is the second time Babylonian music has come across my desk this month. Hopefully the trend of ancient music continues to grow in 2015. You can find my review of Stef Conner's album of Babylonian music on our blog here. Producer David Frost certainly knew what he was doing for this masterwork. I encourage you to pre-order Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirits on Amazon or iTunes this week, and explore Judith Clurman's website for more information.