Chamber Operas, Music-Theater, Interdisciplinary Projects

אופרות קאמריות, תיאטרון-מוסיקה, פרויקטים בינתחומיים

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לחש

Incantation

Music for video-art, 2020 [ca. 7.5’]

Voice & 5 instruments (recorders, cello, double bass, guitar, percussion).

Video: Etty BenZaken | Created as part of Modalius ensemble’s “Whole World” video & music project | Premiere: Israel Music Fest & “Poem Ba’lev” Concert Series, Dec. 2020.

Full Video >>

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משלחת חיפוש 220

Search Expedition 220

Chamber opera, 2019 [ca. 60’]

6 voices & 10 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, lute, 2 percussions)

Text: multi-lingual fragments edited by Etty BenZaken | Directing, design, fabric art-works: Etty BenZaken |  Premiere: Etty BenZaken & "Alma” Vocal ensemble, Modalius ensemble, conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Israel Music Fest, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 2019.

Full video >>

סגולה להרחבת הלב

Amulet for the Widening of the Heart

Sound design for installation, 2015 [loop of 30’]

Visual design and fabric art-works: Etty BenZaken | Commission: Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Polonsky family | Premiere: "What is Memory? 70 Years Later," art exhibition at Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Israel, Apr. 2015.

Video excerpt 1 >>

Video excerpt 2 >>

השוטה

The Fool

Miniature-opera, 2007 [ca. 30’]

Voice, viola, percussion (chamber version of “The Fool Who Loved Singing”).

Text: Etty BenZaken (English) | Directing, design: Etty BenZaken | Commission: New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, USA. | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (singer-actress), Kim Kashkashian (viola), Robyn Schulkovsky (Percussion), Musik Triennale Festival, Köln, Germany, May 2007 | Recorded and broadcasted live by WDR, the German radio.  

השוטה שאהב לשיר

The Fool Who Loved Singing     

Music-Theater, 2006 [ca. 30’]

Voice, narrator, dancer & 7 instruments (2 recorders, viola, cello, guitar, mandolin, percussion).

Text: Etty BenZaken (English & Hebrew) | Directing, design: Etty BenZaken | Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (singer-actress), Joseph Shprinzak (narrator), Anat Shamgar (dancer) & the festival's ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, 2006.

Video excerpt >>

סטאבט מאטר – תפילה אנושית

Stabat Mater – a Human Prayer

Music-Theater, 2004 [ca. 30’]

Voice, string quartet and 2 percussionists.

Text: Etty BenZaken, & traditional and folk texts (Hebrew, Arabic, English, Latin, Ladino) | Directing, design, fabric art-work: Etty BenZaken | Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (singer- actress) & the Israeli Contemporary Quartet, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Aug. 2004 | Recorded and broadcasted live at the Israeli premier, by the Israeli Radio | Documemted on video in Autumn Tbilisi Festival, Georgia, 2012 | Featured in the CD "BenZaken Sings Steinberg and Bardanashvili".

Video excerpt >>

Full video of the concert version >>

הסולטן בהיריון

The Sultan is Pregnant

Music-Theater, 2002 [ca. 30’]

Voice & 7 instruments (2 recorder players, violin, viola, cello, harp, percussion. OR:  flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, harpsicord, ethnic percussion).

Text: Etty BenZaken (Hebrew, Arabic, English) | Directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken | Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (singer-actress) & the festival's ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, July 2002. | Recorded and broadcasted live at the premier, by the Israeli Radio and the Israeli TV.

Video excerpt 1 >>

Video excerpt 2 >>

Full video >>

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משחק הקלפים

The Card Game

Chamber opera, 1995 [ca. 60’]

5 singers-actors (soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, tenor, baritone), dancer, 16 instruments (woodwind quartet, 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, accordion, guitar, 2 percussion players).

Text: Etty BenZaken.

כחול עם זנב

Blue With Tail

Music for video-art, 1995 [ca. 26’]

Voice & 7 instruments (recorder, clarinet, string trio, guitar, percussion).

Text: E.E. Cummings, Dahlia Ravikovitch, Pinhas Sadeh (English, Hebrew) | Video: Marit Benisrael | Premiere: Jerusalem International Film Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, July 1996.

Audio excerpt 1 “Waltz” >>

Audio excerpt 2 “Hist Whist” >>

גוג ומגוג

Gog and Magog

Live music design for theater show, 1994 [ca. 40’]

12 actors-singers, using traditional Hassidic prayers.

Stage directing: Michal Govrin | Premier: Israel Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, May 1994.  

נסיכת חמשת הפנים

Princess of Five Faces

Music-Theater, 1994 [ca. 30’]

Voice & 7 instruments (recorder, string trio, lute, 2 percussionists).

Text: Etty BenZaken (Hebrew & English), inspired by “Dictionary of The Khazars” by Milorad Pavic | Directing, design, masks: Etty BenZaken | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (singer-actress) & the festival’s ensemble, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel, July 1995 | Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio.

שרה

Sarah

Music for theater show, 1993 [ca. 15’]

Voice solo

Commissioned and performed by Theater Company Jerusalem.  

ריקוד הפנים של חווה

The Face Dance of Eve   

Music-Video, 1992 [ca. 11’]

Voice & 4 instruments (piccolo, violin, viola, cello).

Text, video: Marit Benisrael (English) | Premiere: Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, 1992. 

Orchestral Works

יצירות תזמורתיות

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תהליכים קוסמיים בלב IV

Cosmic Progressions in the Heart IV

for chamber orchestra, 2017 [ca. 17’]

Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta. Conductor:  Andres Mustonen, Tartu, Estonia, July 2017.
 

תהליכים קוסמיים בלב III

Cosmic Progressions in the Heart III

for symphony orchestra, 2013 [ca. 17’]

Premiere: Tbilisi Symphony. Conductor: Vakhtang Kakhidze, Autumn Tbilisi Festival, Georgia, Oct. 2013.

Video >>

בחזרה לקניג שטראסה

The Return to Koenigstrasse

Viola concerto, 2011 [ca. 23’]

Commission: The Israeli Beer Sheva Sinfonietta | Premiere: Avshalom Sarid (viola), The Israeli Beer Sheva Sinfonietta. Conductor: Doron Salomon, Be'er Sheva, Israel, Dec. 2011.

Video >>

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רעוא דרעוין (גרסה לקול ותזמורת)

Rava Deravin (orchestral version)

for voice & string orchestra, 2011 [ca. 17’]

Text: Ha’ari (Aramaic) | Commission: Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & the Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble. Conductor: Barak Tal, Israel Music Fest, Rapaport Hall, Haifa, Israel, Oct. 2011.

תהליכים קוסמיים בלב I

Cosmic Progressions in the Heart I   

for chamber orchestra, 2008 [ca. 15’]

Commission: Israeli Camerata Orchestra, Jerusalem | Premier: Israel Camerata Jerusalem. Conductor: Avner Biron, Dec. 2008 | Featured in the CD "The Music Department, University of Haifa", 2011.

Audio >>

נהר השלום זורם שם

Where The Peace River Flows, 1997 [ca. 25’]

for voice, viola & orchestra (5 movements)

Text: Walt Whitman (English, Polish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Korean) | Won the Nicola DeLorenzo Composition Award, USA, 1998.

Shorter version: (3 movements)

“Variousraspirations” 2004 [17']

"אנשימשונימנושמים"

for voice & symphony orchestra (with solo for the orchestra’s violist)

They Meet Again And Now They Dance

for symphony orchestra, 1997 [ca. 10’]

Premiere: UC Berkeley Symphony. Conductor: David Milnes, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, USA, April 1999.

בנקיק נסתר בצוקים איילה שותה מים (גרסה לקול, ויולה ותזמורת)

In a Hidden Cleft Among Cliffs a Gazelle Drinks Water (orchestral version)

for voice, viola & string orchestra, 1996 [ca. 10’]

Text: J. Papernikov, Garcia Lorca, Classical Bedouin, Boris Pasternak, Umberto Saba, Yona Wallach (Yiddish, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Hebrew).

שיר חתונה   

Wedding Song

for symphony orchestra, 1994 [ca. 18’]

Won the Nicola DeLorenzo Composition Award, USA, 1995 | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute.

שנטי – האחראי על השלום

Shanti – Who Is In Charge of Peace 

for symphony orchestra, 1993 [ca. 15’]

Won the Israel Philharmonic Award, 1994 | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: Israel Philharmonic. Conductor: Gary Bertini, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jan. 1994 | Recorded by the Israeli radio with Jerusalem Symphony and conductor Ilan Volkov, Sept. 1996.

Audio >>

תראי, יופי

Look, Beauty

for mezzo-soprano, rock singer, rock band & orchestra, 1992 [ca. 17’]

Text: Uzi Weill, Smadar Imor (Hebrew, English) | Premier: Etty BenZaken, Galit Florenz (vocalists), Tel-Aviv Symphony. Conductor: Itay Talgam, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jan. 1993.

שיחות בגוף תשיעי

Conversations in the Ninth Person

for string orchestra or 9 string instruments, 1988/91 [ca. 10’]

Commission & premiere: Camerata String Orchestra, Jerusalem, Feb. 1988 | Recorded by the Israeli Radio.

Audio, 9 strings version >>

Chamber Works 

יצירות קאמריות

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בגטלה

Bagatella Molto Viva

for 6 instruments, 2018 [ca. 2’]

Flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion.

Commissioned by & dedicated to Boston Musica Viva ensemble and to their conductor Richard Pittman, in celebration of  the ensemble's 50th anniversary | Premiere: Boston Musica Viva, Boston, Oct. 2018.

Audio with score >>

שיר אֵם-הכלה

La madre de la novia

for voice & 10 instruments, 2018 [ca. 7’]

Voice, 2 recorders, 2 celli, double bass, guitar, lute, percussion

Text: Ladino folk song | Premier: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Zucker Hall, Tel-Aviv, Dec. 2018

עכשיו

Now

for voice & 4 instruments, 2017 [ca. 16’]

Voice, cello, double bass, guitar, percussion

Text: Tanikawa Shuntaro (English) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Ha’teiva, Tel Aviv, March 2017.

טווייה

Spinning

for voice & 7 instruments, 2016 [ca. 8’]

Voice, recorder, violin, cello, double bass, guitar, accordion, percussion

Text: Ronit Matalon (Hebrew) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble. Israel Music Fest, Beer Sheva Oct. 2016.

Video >>

גלים מעגליים

Circular Waves

Woodwind quintet, 2016 [ca. 8’]

Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: the Tel Aviv Quintet, Tel-Aviv, Sept. 2016.

Video >>

התוועדות הנשמות

Assembly of the Souls

for voice & 7 instruments, 2014 [ca. 20’]

Voice, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, accordion, piano, percussion.

Text: from the Talmud, and by Abu al-Hassan al-Nuri (10th century) (Hebrew, Arabic) | Commission: Boston Musica Viva & conductor Richard Pittman Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Boston Musica Viva ensemble. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Tzai Performance Center, Boston, USA, Sept. 2014.

Video >>

השתקפויות שקטות לכינור וויולה

Quiet Reflections for Violin & Viola, 2014 [ca. 20’]

Composed for a dance piece by Butoh dancer Maya Dunsky (“Table of Silence”) | Premiere: Yael Barolsky (violin) & Amit Landau (viola), Ha’teiva, Tel Aviv, Nov. 2014.

Audio >>

פרק לרביעיית כלי קשת, לבני נוער

Movimiento per Quarteto D'archi

for youth string quartet, 2014 [ca. 2’]

Commission: Israel Composers' League's project "Composing for young musicians" | Premier: The youth string quartet of Tivon Conservatory, Tel-Aviv, June 2014.

Video, from 5:34 >>

יונים יונים

Yonim Yonim

for two female voices, 2013 [ca. 10’]

Studio version: recorded by Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick

Concert version: 2 voices & sound track | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick, Tel Aviv, Nov. 2014.

Audio, studio version >>

דג זיכרון רוקד

Dancing Memory Fish

for voice and 10 instruments, 2012 [ca. 17’]

Voice, woodwind quartet, string quartet, double bass, percussion.

Text: Harold Schimell, 3 folk children songs (English, Arabic, German, Ladino) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) and the Israeli Contemporary Players. Conductor: Ilan Volkov, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, June 2012.

Video >>

מדרגות הנסתר

Stairs of the Unknown

for voice & 5 instruments, 2009 [ca. 13’]

Voice, flute, clarinet, violin, cello piano.

Text: Raquel Chalfi (Hebrew) | Commission: Meitar ensemble, with the support of Tel Aviv Foundation for the Arts | Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Meitar ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Contempo New Music Festival, Tel Aviv, Jan. 2009 | Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio | Featured in Etty BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.

Audio >>

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תהליכים קוסמיים בלב II

Cosmic Progressions in the Heart II

for 10 instruments, 2011 [ca. 13’]

Flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, accordion, percussion.

Commission & premiere: ensemble El Perro Andaluz, Dresden, Feb. 2012.

Video >>

Travvvveling

for 2 female voices, 2006 [ca. 5’]

Text: E. E. Cummings (English) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick (vocalists), Festival "Kola shel Ha-mila," Jerusalem, March 2006.

Video >>

מילמולין

Milmulin

for a Shaman & 2 percussionists, 2005 [ca. 14’]

Text: Etty BenZaken (Imaginary language) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Karen Phenpimon-Zehavi, Abe Doron (percussion players), Department of Theater, Tel-Aviv University, May 2004.

Audio >>

רעוא דרעוין (גרסה אינסטרומנטלית)

Rava Deravin (instrumental version)

for viola & string quartet,  2003 [ca. 16’]

Premiere: Kim Kashkashian (viola) & Kuss Quartet, Kronberg Viola Festival, Kronberg, Germany, May 2003 | Featured in "Neharot" CD, ECM Records, 2009.

Audio >>

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את חילווה

At Chilwe

for voice & 6 instruments, 2003 [ca. 16’]

Voice, flute, Arabic violin, Viola, double- bass, percussion.

Text: Koby Viner (Hebrew, Arabic) | Commission: "Aley Shir" in memory of Dany Cohen | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & "Shesh Besh – the Arab-Jewish Ensemble", "Aley Shir" concert in memory of Dany Cohen, Kibbutz Mizra, Feb. 2003 | Featured in BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.

Audio >>

נהר השלום

Peace River

for voice & 7 instruments, 2002  [ca. 15’]

Voice, flute, clarinet, violin, 2 violas, cello, piano (Chamber version of parts of the orchestral piece “Where The Peace River Flows”)   Text: Walt Whitman (Serbo-croatian, Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese, English, Indonesian, Korean) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & soloists from the Israel Philharmonic, “New Music Biennale” Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Oct. 2002.

רעוא דרעוין

Rava Deravin

for voice & 6 instruments, 2001 [ca. 14’]

Voice, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano.

Text: Ha’ari (Aramaic) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) &  Boston Musica Viva ensemble. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Boston, USA, Nov. 2002 | Featured in Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002 | Featured in the CD "BenZaken sings Steinberg and Bardanashvili", 2010.

Audio >>

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גשם שקוף

Transparent Rain

for voice & piano, 2001 [ca. 4’]

Text: Israel Pinkas (Hebrew) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Irena Friedland (piano), Haifa University, Feb. 2005 | Featured in Etty BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.

Audio >>

שביר

Fragile

for 6 instruments, 2000 [ca. 8’]

Flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion.

Commission: Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players | Premiere: by BCCP, University of California, Berkeley, April 2000 | Featured in Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.

Audio >>

Guitardion

for guitar quartet, 2000 [ca. 10’]

Commission: San Francisco Guitar Quartet | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute.

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Moving/Stills

for 8 voices & 15 instruments and 8 voices, 1999 [ca. 17’]

2 sopranos, 2 altos, 2 tenors, 2 basses, 2 flutes, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, double bass, mandolin, guitar, accordion, percussion.

Talk Talk Talk

for strings trio, 1997 [ca. 5’]

Commission: Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, March 1998, Jerusalem, Israel | Featured in Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.

Video >>

CD Audio >>

שני סבים שרים

Two Grandfathers Sing

for flute and string quartet, 1996 [ca. 11’]

Premiere: Rami Tal (flute) & Musica Nova ensemble, Tel-Aviv, Israel, May 1996 | Featured in Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.

Audio >>

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בנקיק נסתר בצוקים איילה שותה מים

In a Hidden Cleft Among Cliffs a Gazelle Drinks Water  

for voice & viola, 1985/1996 [ca. 10’]

Text: various poets (multi lingual) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Michelle Dulak (viola), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Oct. 1996 | Featured in Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.

Audio >>

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בהשראת שיר-חתונה בלאדינו

After a Ladino Wedding Song

for voice and 3 violas, 1994 [ca. 6’]

Text: Judeo-Spanish folk song from Morocco | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & UC Berkeley musicians, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Nov. 1994.

La Vita di Sempre

for mezzo-soprano, 2 narrators & 11 instruments, 1987/93 [ca. 15’]

Voice, 2 narrators, woodwind quartet, trumpet, horn, string quartet, percussion.

Text: Inge Steinberg (Italian & French) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Musica Nova ensemble, Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1994.

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עיניים שקטות

Silent Eyes

for voice & 6 instruments, 1991 [ca. 10’]

Voice, recorder, string trio, ud, tabla.

Text: Yehuda Halevy, E.E. Cummings (Hebrew, English) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1991 | Recorded by the Israeli Radio.

Video excerpt >>

סמטה, ציפור ושלושה מלאכים

An Alley, A Bird And Three Angels

Mezzo-soprano, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, piano, 1991 [ca. 10]

Text: Lea Goldberg | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & ensemble, as part of the “Music Now” series, Tel Aviv Museum of Arts, April 1992.

האיש הזקן שאמר 'למה'

The Old Man Who Said ‘Why’

for mezzo-soprano & 9 instruments, 1990 [ca. 15’]

Voice, woodwind quartet, string quartet, percussion.

Text: E.E. Cummings, Traditional Sephardic poem, Dante Alighieri, Else Lasker Schuler, Galit Florenz, Antonio Machado (English, Ladino, Italian, German, Hebrew, Spanish) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Musica Nova ensemble. Conductor: Itay Talgam, Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1990 | Recorded by the Israeli Radio.

Audio >>

פשטות

Simplicity

for voice & 3 instruments, 1989 [ca. 10’]

Voice, soprano saxophone, accordion, guitar.

Text: 3 folksongs, alongside text by E. E. Cummings (Arabic, Bulgarian, English, Ladino) | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Rachel Yatskan (saxophone), Daniel Akiva (guitar), Naftaly Aharoni (accordion), Tel-Aviv, Israel, March 1990 | Recorded by the Israeli Radio.

Audio >>

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זכרונות עתיד

Future Memories

for trombone, 2 pianos, 2 percussion players, 1985 [ca. 12’]  

Premiere: Jerusalem Rubin Academy, June 1985.     

Choral Works

יצירות למקהלה

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סוד הכוונה

Sod Hakavana ("The Secret of Intention")

for 6 choirs & percussion ensemble, 2014 [ca. 25’]

3 mixed choirs, 3 children choirs, 5 percussion players

Text: various poets (multi lingual) | Commission: Israel's Ministry of Culture and Sport | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: Israeli and Estonian choirs, Tremolo percussion ensemble. Conductor: Andres Mustonen, “Mustonen Fest” Tallinn-Tel-Aviv Festival, Ashdod and Tel-Aviv, Israel, Feb. 2018.  

Video >>

אדם-מה

Adam-ma

for mixed choir, 2010 [ca. 7’]

Text: multi lingual fragments (Hebrew, English, Latin) | Commissioned and premiered by "Kolot Hasade" choir. Conductor: Anat Aharoni, Israel, May 2010.

Video >>

טוב מאד להיות

Very Good To Be

for youth mixed choir, 2004 [ca. 8’]

Text: Etty BenZaken (Hebrew) | Commission & premiere: "Nofar" choir, conductor: Miri Sadeh, Karmiel, 2004.

Arvoles lloran Por Luvias

for mixed choir, 1999 [ca. 4’]

Text: Judeo-Spanish folk song (in Ladino) | Premiere: Romeo and Julia choir, Stockholm, Sweden, 2000.

תפילת הבעל שם טוב

The Prayer of The Ba’al Shem

for mixed chorus, 1998 [ca. 4’]

Text: traditional (in Hebrew) | Commission: Northern California Board of Cantors | Premiere: 4th Annual Bay Area Jewish Choral Fest, San Francisco, March 1998.

פיוט מרוקאי

Moroccan Poem

for children’s chorus, 1993 [ca. 2’]

Text: Erez Biton (Hebrew) | Commissioned and published by the Israeli National Council of Culture and Art | Premier: the 1994 Children Chorus Workshop, Tel-Aviv, Israel, May 1994. Recorded by the Israeli Radio.

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לשוט מהחלום

Sails Out of Sleep

for mixed chorus, 1989 [ca. 11’]

Text: E. E. Cummings, Inge Steinberg, Rivka Miriam, Else Lasker Schuler, Guillaume Apollinaire, Antonio Machado (English, Italian, Hebrew, German, French, Spanish) | Premiere: Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1991.

Audio >>

Solo Works

יצירות סולו

Air Drawings

רישומי אוויר

Bass clarinet solo, 2020 [ca. 7’]

Recording premiere: Jonathan Hadas, as part of Israel Composer’s League clarinet-solo project, Feb. 2021.

Video with score >>

מיניאטורה

Miniature

Cembalo solo, 2020 [ca. 1’]

Recording premiere: Hagai Yodan, as part of his 1-minute project, Feb. 2021.

Audio with score >>

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התבוננות רכה על הדרך

Tenderly Looking Over the Path

Piano solo, 2019 [ca. 7’]

Recording premiere: Shira Legmnn, Feb. 2021.

Video >>

מרחק שקוף

Transparent Distance

Organ solo, 2011 [ca. 12’]

Premiere: Yuval Rabin, Hecht Auditorium, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel, February 2012 | Featured in the CD "Highlights of the 2011/12 Organ Recital Series, University of Haifa, 2013.”

Audio >>

שפה זרה

Safa zara (“Foreign Language”)

Voice solo, 2009 [ca. 3’]

Text: Yehuda Amichai | Premiere: Etty BenZaken, Duke University, NC, USA 2009

אירועים פנימיים קטנים

Little Inner Events

Harp solo, 2008 [ca. 8’]

Commission: Harp & Zamir Society, the 17th International Harp Contest, Israel | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: Gittit Boazson (harp), Felicia Blumenthal Center, May 2009.

Audio >>

איפה תעינו, תודה רבה

Where Did We Go Wrong, Thank You

Voice solo, 2003 [ca. 13’]

Text: Dan Pagis (Hebrew) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Hecht Hall, Haifa, May 2003 | Featured in BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.

Audio >>

צעדי מלאך

Angel’s Steps

Piano solo, 1998 [ca. 11’]

Premiere: Sarah Cahill (piano), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, May 1999.

Video >>

שתי שנים ומחצה

For Two and a Half Years

Voice & electronics, 1995 [ca. 6’]

Text: from the Talmud (Hebrew) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), CNMAT - Center for New Music and Audio-Technology, Berkeley, Dec. 1995.

פתוח

Open

Piano solo, 1994 [ca. 8’]

Commission: the Jerusalem Museum Music Series, Jerusalem, Israel | Premiere: Sarah Cahill (piano), ODC Gallery, San Francisco, Nov. 1996.

Audio >>

מצבי רוח

Moods

Mandolin solo, 1987 [ca. 6’]

Premiere: Yonatan Roshfeld (mandolin), Tel-Aviv, Israel, Dec. 1987.

ארבע תמונות לגיטרה סולו

Four Pictures for Solo Guitar, 

Guitar solo, 1986 [ca. 6’]

Premiere: Shlomo Oz (guitar), Jerusalem, Aug. 1986 | Recorded by the Israeli Radio, Daniel Akiva (guitar).   

Video >>

Projects of Folk Songs Arrangements

פרויקטים של עיבודים לשירי-עם

The Streets of Our Childhood

ברחובות ילדותנו

14 arrangements of children folk songs and folk tales, 2017 [ca. 50’]

Voice, recorder, violin, cello, guitar, double bass, percussion.

Texts: folk songs (Hebrew, French, Ladino, Yiddish, English, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Israeli Music Festival, Zikhron Ya’akov, Sep. 2017. | Digital album expected in 2021.

Video excerpt 1 “Frere Jacques" >> 

Video excerpt 2 “Meu pintinho amarelinho” >>

At The Castle's Window

בחלון הטירה

9 arrangements of Spanish & Judeo-Spanish medieval songs, 2017 [ca. 20’]

Voice, recorder, lute, cello, percussion

Additional version:

Voice & 10 instruments (2 recorders, 2 celli, double bass, guitar, lute, percussion).

Texts: folk songs (Spanish, Ladino) | Premiere: BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Open University Concert Series, Feb. 2017.

Video excerpt 1 “Tres Morillas” >>

Video excerpt 2, Juan del Encina “Hoy Comamos” >>

Joy שמחה  فرحه

20 arrangements of folk songs from ethnic communities in Israel, alongside short early and contemporary pieces, since 2014 [ca. 60’]

Voice, recorder, Arabic violin, cello, guitar, double bass, percussion

Additional version (2 songs):

Voice, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion.

Texts: folk songs (Hebrew, Arabic, Malayalam, Juhuri, Russian, Yiddish, Ladino) and a text by John Cage | Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Felicja Blumental International Music Festival, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, March 2014 | Released as a CD and digital album: “Joy שמחה  فرحه” 2010.

Video excerpt >>

Full CD Audio >>

Folk Songs of Labor and Protest

שירי עבודה ומחאה

10 arrangements of folk songs for voice & guitar, 2009 [ca. 30’]

Texts: folk songs (English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar), the Inter-Universities Conference for Folklore Research, University of Haifa, May 2009.

Video excerpt >>

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 I Love My Love

12 arrangements of folk songs, for voice & guitar, 2006 [ca. 45’]

Additional version (several songs): voice, recorder, guitar, cello, percussion.

Texts: folk songs (English, Hebrew, Ladino,Yiddish, Armenian, Spanish, Italian) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar), Fool-Wise Storytelling Festival, Malta, Dec. 2006 | Released as a CD: “I Love My Love” 2010.

Video excerpt >>

3 Medieval Dances

arranged for 10 instruments, 2005 [ca. 9’]

2 recorders, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 3 percussion players

Commission and premiere: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Jul. 2005.

6 Folk Songs

arranged for voice and 7-10 instruments, 2005 [ca. 20’]

Texts: folk songs (Hebrew, Armenian, Ladino, Yiddish) | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Michael & Yael Melzer (recorders),Galia Hay (viola), Shmuel Elbaz (mandolin), Oded Shoub (guitar). Orit Messer (cello), Amnon Yoel (percussion), University of Haifa, the 32nd Annual Board Meeting.

Video excerpt >>

The Bride Unfastens Her Braids, The Groom Faints – Ladino Project

הכלה מתירה צמותיה, החתן מתעלף – פרויקט שירי-לאדינו

Large-scale project, arrangements of Judeo-Spanish folk songs, since 1998

Texts: folk songs (Ladino, Hekitiya)

Versions:

• 15 arrangements for voice & 10 instruments, 2018 [ca. 60’]

Voice, 2 recorders, 2 celli, double bass, guitar, lute, percussion.

Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Steinberg’s Ladino project, Zucker hall, Tel-Aviv, Dec. 2018.

Video – full concert >>

Full double CD >>

• 12 arrangements for Voice & 10 instruments, 2014 [ca. 50’]

Voice, recorder, oboe, trombone, violin, gamba, double bass, harpsicord, 3 percussionists.

Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Hortus Musicus ensemble, Tallinn, Estonia, March 2014.

• 2 arrangements for middle-eastern orchestra, 2009 [ca. 10’]

Commission and premiere: Middle-Eastern Ensemble, University of Texas, Austin, May 2010.

• 8 arrangements for voice & symphony orchestra, 2008 [ca. 30’]

Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Haifa Symphony. Conductor: Omer Wellber, Haifa Auditorium, May 2008.

• 14 arrangements for voice & guitar, 2006 [ca. 55’]

Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar). Tikotin Museum, Haifa, May 2007.

Video excerpt >>

• 4 arrangements for voice & 10 instruments, 2005 [ca. 16’] 

Voice, recorders quartet, string quartet, 2 percussion players.

Commission & premiere: Renaissance Festival, Yechiam, Israel, Oct. 2005.

• 11 arrangements for voice & chamber orchestra, 2004 [ca. 50’]

Commission: Israeli Chamber Orchestra | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, March 2004.

• 12 arrangements voice & 4 instruments, 2002 [ca. 50’]

Voice, recorder, harp, cello, percussion.

Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice), Michael Melzaer (recorders), Adina Haroz (harp), Amnon Yoel, The Voice of Music in Upper Galilee, 2002.

Video – full concert, part 1 >>

Video – full concert, part 2 >>

• 15 arrangements for voice & 4 instruments, 1998 [ca. 50’]

Voice, recorder, guitar, cello/gamba, percussion.

Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Yatán Atán ensemble, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Oct. 1998 | Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio | Recorded on Israel TV channel 2 | Relerased as a CD: "The Bride Unfastens Her Braids, the Groom Faints" New Albion Records, USA.,1999.

Video excerpt >>

Various Arrangements

עיבודים שונים

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Six Haiku by John Cage, 2018 [ca. 5’]

Arranged for ensemble, from Cage’s solo piano sketches (1950-1951)

Recorder, cello, double bass, guitar, accordion.

Premiere: Modalius ensemble, cond.: Eitan Steinberg, Music Department, University of Haifa, May 2018.

Pari Intervallo by Arvo Part, 2017 [ca. 7’]

Arranged for voice & ensemble, from Part’s solo organ

Voice, flute, cello, double bass, guitar.

Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Hateiva, Tel Aviv, March 2017.

"עד" מאת סשה ארגוב

“Ad” by Alexander Argov 2008 [ca. 4']

Arranged for string quartet, from Argov’s song

Premiere: the Israeli Contemporary Quartet, Spring Festival Rishon Letzion, April 2008.

La Passion Segun San Marco by Osvaldo Golijov (excerpts), 2005 [ca. 15’]

Arranged for voice & ensemble, from Golijov’s choir & large ensemble

Voice, string quartet, guitar, accordion, percussion

Commission: the International Spring Festival in Rishon Le'tzion, Israel | Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) and the festival’s ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, April 2005.

Stabat Mater by Antonio Vivaldi, 2004 [25’]

Arranged for voice & string quartet, from Vivaldi’s voice & chamber orchestra

Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Israeli Contemporary Quartet, The Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, 2004.

Major themes, with few examples: 
:נושאים מרכזיים, עם דוגמאות אחדות

Voice, text, multi-lingual  

קול, טקסט, ריבוי-שפות

טווייה

Spinning - for voice & ensemble, 2016 [ca. 8’]

Text: Ronit Matalon (Hebrew) | Video >>

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יונים יונים

Yonim Yonim- for two female voices, 2013 [ca. 10’] Audio >>

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מילמולין

Milmulin - for a Shaman & 2 percussionists, 2005 [ca. 14’]

Text: Etty BenZaken (Imaginary language) | Audio >>

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בנקיק נסתר בצוקים איילה שותה מים

In a Hidden Cleft Among Cliffs a Gazelle Drinks Water - for voice & viola, 1985/1996 [ca. 10’]

Text: various poets (multi lingual) | Audio >>

Morality, politics, Hebrew & Arabic

פוליטיקה, מוסר, עברית וערבית

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התוועדות הנשמות

Assembly of the Souls - for voice & ensemble [ca. 20’] | Text: from the Talmud, and by Abu al-Hassan al-Nuri (10th century) (Hebrew, Arabic) | Video >>

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סטאבט מאטר – תפילה אנושית

Stabat Mater – a Human Prayer - Music-Theater, 2004 [ca. 30’] | Text: Etty BenZaken, & traditional and folk texts (Hebrew, Arabic, English, Latin, Ladino) | Full video of the concert version >>

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את חילווה

At Chilwe - for voice & ensemble, 2003 [ca. 16’] | Text: Koby Viner (Hebrew, Arabic) | Audio >>

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איפה תעינו, תודה רבה

Where Did We Go Wrong, Thank You - for voice solo, 2003 [ca. 13’] |Text: Dan Pagis (Hebrew) | Audio >>

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הסולטן בהיריון

The Sultan is Pregnant - Music-Theater, 2002 [ca. 30’] | Text: Etty BenZaken (Hebrew, Arabic, English) | Video excerpt >>

Lirical minimalism; Simultaneity 

מינימליזם לירי; בו-זמניות 

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Air Drawings

רישומי אוויר - Bass clarinet solo, 2020 [ca. 7’] | Video >>

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התבוננות רכה על הדרך

Tenderly Looking Over the Path - Piano solo, 2019 [ca. 7’] | Video >>

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תהליכים קוסמיים בלב II

Cosmic Progressions in the Heart II - for ensemble, 2011 [ca. 13’] | Video >>

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שנטי – האחראי על השלום

Shanti – Who Is In Charge of Peace - for symphony orchestra, 1993 [ca. 15’] | Audio >>

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Dialogue with folk/early music

דיאלוג עם מוסיקה עממית/עתיקה

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Travvvveling - for 2 female voices, 2006 [ca. 5’] | Text: E. E. Cummings (English) | Video >>

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רעוא דרעוין

Rava Deravin - for voice & ensemble, 2001 [ca. 14’] | Text: Ha’ari (Aramaic) | Audio >>

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שני סבים שרים

Two Grandfathers Sing - for flute and string quartet, 1996 [ca. 11’] | Audio >>

Inter-disciplinary collaboration with BenZaken

שיתופי פעולה בינתחומיים עם אתי בן-זקן

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לחש

Incantation - Video-art, 2020 [ca. 7.5’] | Video >>

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משלחת חיפוש 220

Search Expedition 220 - Chamber opera, 2019 [ca. 60’] 

Text: multi-lingual fragments edited by Etty BenZaken | Full video >>

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סגולה להרחבת הלב

Amulet for the Widening of the Heart - installation, 2015 [loop of 30’] | Video excerpt >>