World premiere of "Alef-Bet: Music of the Hebrew Letters" by Joe Vass and illuminated imagery by Robyn Stoller Awend
St. Paul JCC, St. Paul, MNRelated Events:
Artist Forum: A Conversation with the Artists October 20, 7PM
Composer Joe Vass and visual artist Robyn Stoller Awend expose the philosophy behind their work. Joe?s latest undertaking, a fascinating new suite entitled Alef-Bet: Music of the Hebrew Letters. ?When I first heard about Joe?s new piece, I knew Robyn?s artwork would make a perfect visual counterpart,? said Jewish Cultural Arts Director, Jeffrey Richman. ?Sometimes art or poetry or music is the best way to express deeply philosophical ideas.? Join us for this is rare opportunity to hear what?s behind such innovative creations. Joe and Robyn will talk about their work and illuminate their ideas through slides and musical examples.
"Alef-Bet: Music of the Hebrew Letters" by Joe Vass and illuminated imagery by Robyn Stoller Awend
October 24, 7 pm
Awend?s work will be featured in the Gallery Walk and as part of the world premiere: Music of the Alef-Bet by Joe Vass, a suite of new music inspired by the Hebrew letters. This pairing will combine music and visual imagery to explore the many layers, which comprise the ancient Hebrew Alphabet. Joe Vass, well known musician and composer, will present a fascinating new composition?a musical ?midrash? or commentary?inspired by the Hebrew letters.
In the Zohar, considered the most important work of Kabbalah or Jewish mysticism, it is written, ?God looked into the letters of the Torah and created the universe?. Vass? opus springs from the unique and individual significance of the Hebrew letters, which, unlike English symbols, signify through their shape, their names, and their numerical correspondence?all manifestations of their deeper spiritual underpinnings. Like the letters, music has form and shape in its structure and dynamics and in its melodic contours.
?Alef-Bet? is a poetic composition, scored for large ensemble, which draws upon modern, jazz, classical and Jewish musical forms. The theatrical experience of Vass?s composition will be intertwined with projections of artwork from Robyn Stoller Awend's ?Alef-Bet.? Used as a visual accompaniment for this musical ensemble, Awend?s unique perception of the Alef-Bet will illuminate the mystical and emotional state of the Hebrew letters, which comprise the Torah?s opening words: B?reisheet (in the beginning)?the portion which Jews have just read as the yearly cycle begins anew.