Psalm 121 Esa Enai - with text and translation

I was very fortunate to be able to work with the composer, Mr. Ben Steinberg, on this wonderful setting of Psalm 121. He was gracious in helping me free up my interpretation by taking more liberties than I was prepared to do, with the flow of the music.
Ben Steinberg, son of the late Cantor Alexander Steinberg, was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in l930 and educated at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. Involved in traditional synagogue music since childhood (he was a child soloist at age eight and conducted his first synagogue choir at age twelve) his career is a long and distinguished one. Having served Toronto's Temple Sinai as Director of Music since l970, Mr. Steinberg was appointed its Composer-in-Residence in l996. He is a widely-recognized composer, conductor and lecturer, noted for his lecture-recitals on Jewish Music History and style at major centers and universities in Canada and the United states, including Cornell University, where he has twice been invited as Dean sage Speaker. His works have been commissioned by numerous synagogues and other groups such as: The Toronto Chamber Players; The Royal Canadian College of Organists; The American Guild of Organists; The Canadian Jewish Congress; The Toronto Holocaust Remembrance Committee; the Weizmann Institute; the University of St. Thomas (Texas); Cabrillo College (California); Yale University in conjunction with Union Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College (New York); and The American Conference of Cantors. His compositions have been performed by such outstanding artists as opera star Richard Tucker, and actor/narrators Ed Asner and the late Herschel Bernardi. His works, published in the U.S., Canada and Israel, include six Sabbath Services, a Memorial Service, thirteen cantatas for chorus and orchestra, numerous choral settings, instrumental chamber works and solo songs. His music has been performed often in concert and broadcast worldwide. A recording of his Friday Evening Service "Shomeir Yisrael" was released by Arkay Records of California. Many of his works have been selected for inclusion in recordings by artists in Europe and across the United States.His cantata "Echoes of children" for Choir and orchestra, commemorating the children who perished in the holocaust and broadcast under his direction on the Canadian National Network (CBC) won the prestigious 1979 International "Gabriel Award" for outstanding creativity in broadcast programming. A PBS performance of this work with the Toledo Symphony was shown on television stations throughout the U.S.. He was honored by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which devoted a complete broadcast to the presentation of his synagogue music, performed under his direction by two cantors, a choir and symphony orchestra.The recipient of many awards and honors, he is proud to have received the 1983 "Kavod Award" of the Cantors' Assembly (Conservative); the 1990 inaugural Guild of Temple Musicians' "Shomer Shira Award" and in 1992 was made an honorary member of the American Conference of Cantors (Reform). The American Harp Society presented him with an honorary membership in 1983, honoring his "Suite for Flute, Viola and Harp", built on Sephardic themes. He was invited by Israel's 1988 Zimriah (Choral Festival) to lecture on his choral compositions. Earlier, he was honored twice by the city of Jerusalem, which invited him to be an artist-in-residence at its creative retreat, "Mishkenot Shaananim" - an honor then reserved for composers, artists and writers of international stature. In 1998, New York's Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion conferred upon him the honorary degree of "Doctor of Humane Letters". On Nov. 12, 2004 he was honored for Lifetime Achievement by the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism, and on December 6, 2001, he received the Union of American Hebrew Congregations' highest honor, the Eisendrath Bearer of Light award. The University of Calgary (Alberta) in recognition of his contribution to Canadian and Jewish music worldwide has established a "Ben Steinberg Archive" to house his original manuscripts, scores and papers.


Performed at Rodef Shalom Congregation
Soloist: Rowna Sutin
Organist: Don Megahan

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ben
• Steinberg
• Esa
• Enai
• Rowna
• Sutin
• Don
• Megahan

[511JBOY]

its nice but at 1:59 thts in the sistine chapal

[cantorandopera]

@511JBOY Yes - I know this is from the Sistine Chapel as I have visited it twice. This depiction of God creating man is iconic, and to me, is one of the most beautiful examples of something man has created, inspired by God. Just because a Christian, or a Muslim creates something, does not mean it is not worthy of a post with a Jewish theme.

[teamim]

Exquisite, truly exquisite! (יפה מאד מאד)

Of course you realize, one day soon I'll have to put up Suzanne Haik-Vantoura's simple and striking version (complete with Hebrew and English lyrics). I think you'd appreciate how much it does with how little, musically speaking.

שבת שלום

יוחנן רכב

[cantorandopera]

I would love it if you would post it right here as a video response. And thanks for listening. :))

[shaynapulley]

Oh wow, this was beautiful!

[cantorandopera]

Thank you - and on behalf of Mr. Steinberg, I thank you as well - he is one of the great composers of Jewish themed music.

[777Thinking]

LOVELY!!!!!

[teamim]

Well, it took long enough for me to make the video, ma'am, but it's done - and at this writing will be linked within moments. Enjoy and be blessed!

(שלום מיוחנן רכב)

[THEKINGMRMIGHTY]

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.matthew:24:14. THANKS JESUS.

[shaynapulley]

I thoroughly enjoyed it! Kudos to Mr. Steinberg, and happy Chanukah!