Eitan Steinberg
Composer
&
Etty BenZaken
Vocalist, Interdisciplinary artist
Music for theatrical & inter-disciplinary works
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2014 - Amulet for the Widening of the Heart
סגולה להרחבת הלב
Original music and sound design for an interdisciplinary installation.
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (quilts and visual design)
Commissioned by the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Polonsky family, as part of the exhibition "What is Memory? 70 Years Later" at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Israel, Apr. 2015.
Excerpt on YouTube >>
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2014 - Table of Silence
שולחן השתיקה
for violin and viola (15 min.)
Music for a dance piece by Butoh dancer Maya Dunsky.
Premiered by violinist Yael Barolsky and violist Amit Landau, "Marathon Hateiva", Tel Aviv, Nov. 2014.
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2012 - The Merry Fishermen's Island
אי הדייגים המאושרים
Live music design for clarinet and percussions, for a theater-students children show. (55 min.) (multi lingual)
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Premiered by students of the theater department at the University of Haifa, April 2012.
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2011 - Fabrics' Stories
סיפורי בדים
Live music design with traditional folk songs, for 16 theater-students. (60 min.) (multi lingual)
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Premiered by students of the theater department at the University of Haifa, May 2011.
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2007 - The Fool
השוטה
Miniature Opera
for voice, viola and percussion (30 min.) (Eng.)
Collaboration with artist Etty Ben-Zaken (text, set design, staging)
Commissioned by the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, USA.
Premiered by Etty BenZaken (Voice) Kim Kashkashian (viola) and Robyn Schulkovsky (Percussion), Musik Triennale Festival, Köln, Germany, May 2007.
Recorded and broadcasted live by WDR – the German radio.
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2006 - "The Fool Who Loved Singing"
השוטה שאהב לשיר
Music-Theater for voice, 7 instruments, narrator and a dancer (30 min.)
(Heb., Eng.) Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Commissioned by the Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel, Oct. 2006.
Premiered there with BenZaken as soloist, the festival's ensemble, voice artist Joseph Shprinzak and dancer Anat Shamgar.
Excerpt on YouTube >>
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2004 - Stabat Mater – a Human Prayer
סטאבט מאטר – תפילה אנושית
Music-Theater for voice, string quartet and sound-track (30 min.) (Hebrew, Arabic, English, Latin, Ladino)
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Commissioned by the Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel, August 2004. Premiered there by Etty BenZaken and the Israeli Contemporary Quartet. Additional fully-staged performances include the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, October 2004; the Spring Festival Rishon Lezion April 2005; "Hag Hagim" Festival, Haifa, 2008; The many concert performances include the Rothko Chapel in Huston, USA, 2009, and Autumn Tbilisi Festival, Georgia, 2012.
American premier: Etty BenZaken and ensemble Mallarme, Duke University, March 2006. European Premier: Etty BenZaken and Orchestrautopica, Festival Expresso Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007.
Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio.
Featured on the CD "BenZaken sings Steinberg and Bardanashvili".
Excerpt 1 on YouTube >>
Excerpt 2 on YouTube >>
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2002 - The Sultan is Pregnant
סולטן בהיריון
Music-Theater for voice & 7 instruments (30 min.) (Hebrew, Arabic, English)
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Commissioned by the Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel, July 2002.
Premiered there by BenZaken, the festival's ensemble & Eitan Steinberg, conductor.
American premier: Etty BenZaken and ensemble Boston Musica Viva, conducted by Richard Pittman, Boston, Oct. 2004.
Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio.
Recorded and broadcasted the Israeli TV.|
Excerpt 1 on YouTube >>
Excerpt 2 on YouTube >>
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1995 - Blue With Tail
כחול עם זנב
Music-Video for voice, recorder, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, guitar & percussion. (26 min.) (Hebrew, English)
Collaboration with video artist Marit Benisrael.
Premiere screening: Jerusalem International Film Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, July 1996.
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1994 - Gog and Magog
גוג ומגוג
Live music design using traditional Hasidic prayers, for 12 actors/singers. (40 min.) (multi lingual)
Collaboration with stage director Michal Govrin.
Premiered at the Israel Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, May 1994.
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1994 - Princess of Five Faces
נסיכת חמשת הפנים
Music-Theater for a singer/actress, recorder, string trio, lute & 2 percussionists. (36') (Hebrew / English)
Collaboration with artist Etty BenZaken (text, set design, staging)
Premiered with Benzaken as soloist, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel, July 1995.
Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio.
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1993 - Sarah
שרה
Music for a theater show, for voice solo. (15 min.) (Hebrew)
Commissioned and performed by Theater Company Jerusalem.
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1992 - The Face Dance of Eve Music-Video
יקוד הפנים של חווה
for voice, piccolo, violin, viola, cello. (11 min.) (English)
Collaboration with video artist Marit Benisrael.
Screened in Israel: the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv; Yanco Dada Museum, Ein Hod; Beyt Zioney America, Tel-Aviv; Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Eitan Steinberg: Compositions
איתן שטיינברג: רשימת יצירות
The full list, by categories:
:הרשימה המלאה, לפי קטגוריות
Partial list of major themes with few examples:
:רשימה חלקית של נושאים מרכזיים, עם דוגמאות אחדות
Chamber Operas, Music-Theater, Interdisciplinary Projects
אופרות קאמריות, תיאטרון-מוסיקה, פרויקטים בינתחומיים
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 | Online premiere: Israel Music Fest & “Poem Ba’lev” Concert Series, Dec. 2020. Big screen premiere: "Epos" - The International Festival of art and culture in The Tel Aviv Cinemateque!, 2022.
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
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.
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.
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.
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".
Full video (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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (1991 strings version) >>
Re-orchestrated in 2021 for strings quintet + woodwind quartet, for the Israeli Contemporary Players.
Chamber Works
יצירות קאמריות
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.
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.
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
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.
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
גלים מעגליים
Circular Waves
Woodwind quintet, 2016 [ca. 8’]
Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute | Premiere: the Tel Aviv Quintet, Tel-Aviv, Sept. 2016.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
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.
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.
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.
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.
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Guitardion
for guitar quartet, 2000 [ca. 10’]
Commission: San Francisco Guitar Quartet | Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
זכרונות עתיד
Future Memories
for trombone, 2 pianos, 2 percussion players, 1985 [ca. 12’]
Premiere: Jerusalem Rubin Academy, June 1985.
Choral Works
יצירות למקהלה
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
מיניאטורה
Miniature
Cembalo solo, 2020 [ca. 1’]
Recording premiere: Hagai Yodan, as part of his 1-minute project, Feb. 2021.
התבוננות רכה על הדרך
Tenderly Looking Over the Path
Piano solo, 2019 [ca. 7’]
Recording premiere: Shira Legmnn, Feb. 2021.
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.”
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.
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.
צעדי מלאך
Angel’s Steps
Piano solo, 1998 [ca. 11’]
Premiere: Sarah Cahill (piano), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, May 1999.
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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.
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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.
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2 arrangements for middle-eastern orchestra, 2009 [ca. 10’]
Commission and premiere: Middle-Eastern Ensemble, University of Texas, Austin, May 2010.
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8 arrangements for voice & symphony orchestra, 2008 [ca. 30’]
Premiere: Etty BenZaken & Haifa Symphony. Conductor: Omer Wellber, Haifa Auditorium, May 2008.
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14 arrangements for voice & guitar, 2006 [ca. 55’]
Premiere: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar). Tikotin Museum, Haifa, May 2007.
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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.
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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.
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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 >>
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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.
Various Arrangements
עיבודים שונים
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.
Partial list of major themes with few examples:
:רשימה חלקית של 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)
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
יונים יונים
Yonim Yonim- for two female voices, 2013 [ca. 10’]
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
מילמולין
Milmulin - for a Shaman & 2 percussionists, 2005 [ca. 14’]
Text: Etty BenZaken (Imaginary language)
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)
Morality, politics, Hebrew & Arabic
פוליטיקה, מוסר, עברית וערבית
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 >>
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 >>
את חילווה
At Chilwe - for voice & ensemble, 2003 [ca. 16’] | Text: Koby Viner (Hebrew, Arabic) | Audio >>
איפה תעינו, תודה רבה
Where Did We Go Wrong, Thank You - for voice solo, 2003 [ca. 13’] |Text: Dan Pagis (Hebrew) | Audio >>
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
Air Drawings
רישומי אוויר - Bass clarinet solo, 2020 [ca. 7’] | Video >>
התבוננות רכה על הדרך
Tenderly Looking Over the Path - Piano solo, 2019 [ca. 7’] | Video >>
תהליכים קוסמיים בלב II
Cosmic Progressions in the Heart II - for ensemble, 2011 [ca. 13’] | Video >>
שנטי – האחראי על השלום
Shanti – Who Is In Charge of Peace - for symphony orchestra, 1993 [ca. 15’] | Audio >>
Dialogue with folk/early music
דיאלוג עם מוסיקה עממית/עתיקה
Travvvveling - for 2 female voices, 2006 [ca. 5’] | Text: E. E. Cummings (English)
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
רעוא דרעוין
Rava Deravin - for voice & ensemble, 2001 [ca. 14’] | Text: Ha’ari (Aramaic)
שני סבים שרים
Two Grandfathers Sing - for flute and string quartet, 1996 [ca. 11’]
Inter-disciplinary collaboration with BenZaken
שיתופי פעולה בינתחומיים עם אתי בן-זקן
לחש
Incantation - Video-art, 2020 [ca. 7.5’]
CD audio, as part of 2021 album >>
משלחת חיפוש 220
Search Expedition 220 - Chamber opera, 2019 [ca. 60’]
Text: multi-lingual fragments edited by Etty BenZaken
סגולה להרחבת הלב
Amulet for the Widening of the Heart - installation, 2015 [loop of 30’]