Cantor Erik Contzius recently debuted his lovely new composition, “Mah Ashiv Ladonai – quid retribuam Domino” on November 16, 2010 at, off all places, the Vatican. According to the New York Jewish Week, “Twenty cantors of the American Conference of Cantors(ACC) will present for the first time a concert of Jewish music at the Basilica of Santa Marie degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome on Nov. 16 before Vatican officials, hoping to use music as another way to achieve closer relations between Catholics and Jews.” The composition is a setting of Psalm 116. I find Mah Ashiv Ladonai, like Contzius’ compositions, to be quite moving. Check out his website and, in particular, his recording “Teach My Lips a Blessing.” I’m a fan.
Mah Ashiv Ladonai – quid retribuam Domino Premiere
Update: I just got a note from Ruth Ellen Gruber pointing me to her article in the JTA on the concert. It’s a great read and provides a lot more detail and context for the concert. On of the elements of the story that she picks up on is dynamics of Jewish movements (denominations) and how they played out. While Italy has a Jewish community, their cantors have never sung for the Vatican. Why? Because they’re Orthodox and wouldn’t sing in a church. The ACC is Reform and didn’t have an issue with it. Also, while Italy has a chief Rabbi, he didn’t attend the show. Why? Because the ACC group included women cantors, which violates the Orthodox kol isha rules about women singing in public. Again, the ACC is Reform and have no such restrictions. What makes this double fascinating is that, in the four or five different articles on the even I read, only Gruber’s draws out this critical detail.
You have to Login