Music-Theater, Chamber Operas, Interdisciplinary Projects
תיאטרון-מוסיקה, אופרות קאמריות, פרויקטים בינתחומיים
Incantation
לחש
Music for video-art work, for voice & 5 instruments (recorders, cello, double bass, guitar, percussion, 7.5 min., 2020).
Video: Etty BenZaken.
Created as part of Modalius ensemble’s “Whole World” video & music project.
Premier screenings: Israel Music Fest & “Poem Ba’lev” Concert Series, Dec. 2020.
Search Expedition 220
משלחת חיפוש 220
Chamber opera for 6 vocalists and 10 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, lute, 2 percussion players, 60 min., 2019).
Stage directing, stage design, fabric art-works: Etty BenZaken.
Text: multi-lingual fragments edited by Etty BenZaken.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) with "Alma” Vocal ensemble & Modalius ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Israel Music Fest, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 2019.
Amulet for the Widening of the Heart
סגולה להרחבת הלב
Sound design for installation (30 min., 2015)
Visual design and fabric art-works: Etty BenZaken.
Commission: Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Polonsky family.
Premier: "What is Memory? 70 Years Later," art exhibition at Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Israel, Apr. 2015.
The Fool
השוטה
Miniature opera for voice, viola and percussion (chamber version of “The Fool Who Loved Singing,” 30 min., 2007).
Stage directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken.
Text: Etty BenZaken (in Eng.).
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.
The Fool Who Loved Singing
השוטה שאהב לשיר
Music-Theater for voice, narrator, dancer & 7 instruments (2 recorder players, viola, cello, guitar, mandolin, percussion, 30 min., 2006).
Stage directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken.
Text: Etty BenZaken (in Eng. & Heb.).
Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (singer-actress), Joseph Shprinzak (narrator), Anat Shamgar (dancer) & the festival's ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Oct. 2006.
Stabat Mater – a Human Prayer
סטאבט מאטר – תפילה אנושית
Music-Theater for voice, string quartet and 2 percussionists (30 min., 2004).
Stage directing, stage design, fabric art-work: Etty BenZaken.
Text: Etty BenZaken, alongside early and folk texts (in Hebrew, Arabic, English, Latin, Ladino).
Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (singer- actress) & the Israeli Contemporary Quartet, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Aug. 2004.
Concert version (without set and staging):
American premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & ensemble Mallarme, Duke University, March 2006.
European Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Orchestrautopica, Festival Expresso Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007.
Recorded and broadcasted live at the Israeli premier, by the Israeli Radio.
Recorded on video in Autumn Tbilisi Festival, Georgia, 2012.
Featured on the CD "BenZaken Sings Steinberg and Bardanashvili".
The Sultan is Pregnant
הסולטן בהיריון
Music-Theater for voice & 7 instruments (2 recorder players, string trio, harp, percussion, 30 min., 2002).
Stage directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken.
Text: Etty BenZaken (in Hebrew, Arabic, English).
Commission: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Israel.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (singer- actress) & the festival's ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, July 2002.
American premier: Etty BenZaken and Boston Musica Viva. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Boston, Oct. 2004.
Recorded and broadcasted live at the premier, by the Israeli Radio and the Israeli TV.
Blue With Tail
כחול עם זנב
Music-Video for voice & 7 instruments (recorder, clarinet, string trio, guitar, percussion, 26 min., 1995).
Video: Marit Benisrael.
Text: Various poets (in Hebrew & English).
Premiere screening: Jerusalem International Film Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, July 1996.
Gog and Magog
גוג ומגוג
Live music design using traditional Hassidic prayers, for 12 actors/singers. (40 min., 1994).
Stage directing: Michal Govrin.
Premier: Israel Festival, Jerusalem, Israel, May 1994.
Princess of Five Faces
נסיכת חמשת הפנים
Music-Theater for a voice & 7 instruments (recorder, string trio, lute, 2 percussionists, 36 min., 1994).
Stage directing, stage design, masks: Etty BenZaken.
Text: Etty BenZaken (Hebrew & English).
Premier: 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.
Sarah
שרה
Music for a theater show, for voice solo (15 min., 1993).
Commissioned and performed by Theater Company Jerusalem.
The Face Dance of Eve
ריקוד הפנים של חווה
Music-Video for voice & 4 instruments (piccolo, violin, viola, cello, 11 min., 1992). Video: Marit Benisrael.
Text: Marit Benisrael.
Screened in Israel at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art; Yanco Dada Museum, Ein Hod; Beyt Zioney America, Tel-Aviv; Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Live music design for theater shows:
ניהול ועיצוב מוסיקלי להצגות:
The Merry Fishermen's Island
אי הדייגים המאושרים
Live music design for clarinet and percussions, for a children show. (55 min., 2012).
Text, stage directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken (multi-lingual).
Premiered by students of the theater department at the University of Haifa, April 2012.
Fabrics' Stories
סיפורי בדים
Live music design with traditional folk songs, for 16 theater-students. (60 min., 2011).
Text, stage directing, stage design: Etty BenZaken (multi-lingual).
Premiered by students of the theater department at the University of Haifa, May 2011.
Orchestral Works
יצירות תזמורתיות
Cosmic Progressions in the Heart IV
תהליכים קוסמיים בלב 4
For chamber orchestra (17 min., 2017).
Premier: Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta. Conductor: Andres Mustonen, Tartu, Estonia, July 2017.
Cosmic Progressions in the Heart III
תהליכים קוסמיים בלב 3
For symphony orchestra (17 min., 2013).
Premier: Tbilisi Symphony. Conductor: Vakhtang Kakhidze, Autumn Tbilisi Festival, Georgia, Oct. 2013.
The Return to Koenigstrasse
בחזרה לקניג שטראסה
Concerto for viola and orchestra (23 min., 2011).
Commission: The Israeli Beer Sheva Sinfonietta.
Premiere: Avshalom Sarid (viola), The Israeli Beer Sheva Sinfonietta. Conductor: Doron Salomon, Be'er Sheva, Israel, Dec. 2011.
Rava Deravin (orchestral version)
רעוא דרעוין - גרסה תזמורתית
For voice & strings orchestra (17 min., 2011).
Text: Ha’ari (in Aramaic).
Commission: Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & the Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble. Conductor: Barak Tal, Israel Music Fest, Rapaport Hall, Haifa, Israel, Oct. 2011.
Cosmic Progressions in the Heart I
תהליכים קוסמיים בלב 1
For chamber orchestra (15 min., 2008).
Commission: Israeli Camerata Orchestra, Jerusalem.
Premier: Israeli Camerata. Conductor: Avner Biron, Dec. 2008.
Featured on the CD "The Music Department, University of Haifa", 2011.
Variousraspirations
אנשימשונימנושמים
For voice, viola & orchestra (17 min., 1997/2004).
Text: Walt Whitman (multi lingual).
Won the Nicola DeLorenzo Composition Award, 1998.
They Meet Again And Now They Dance
For orchestra (10 min., 1997).
Premier: UC Berkeley Symphony. Conductor: David Milnes, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, USA, April 1999.
In a Hidden Cleft Among Cliffs a Gazelle Drinks Water (orchestral version)
בנקיק נסתר בצוקים איילה שותה מים - גרסה תזמורתית
For voice, viola & string orchestra (10 min., 1996).
Text by various poets (multi lingual).
Wedding Song
שיר חתונה
For orchestra (18 min., 1994)
Won the Nicola DeLorenzo Composition Award, 1995.
Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute.
Shanti
שנטי
For orchestra (15 min., 1993).
Won the Israel Philharmonic Award, 1994.
Premier: Israel Philharmonic. Conductor: Gary Bertini, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jan. 1994. Recorded by the Israeli radio with Jerusalem Symphony and conductor Ilan Volkov, Sept. 1996.
Published by IMI, Israel Music Institute.
Look, Beauty
תראי, יופי
For mezzo-soprano, rock singer, rock band & orchestra (17 min., 1992).
Text: Uzi Weill, Smadar Imor (Hebrew, English).
Premier: Etty BenZaken, Galit Florenz (vocalists) & the Tel-Aviv Symphony. Conductor: Itay Talgam, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jan. 1993.
Conversations in the Ninth Person
שיחות בגוף תשיעי
For string orchestra or 9 string instruments (10 min., 1988/91).
Commissioned and premiered by Camerata String Orchestra, Jerusalem, Feb. 1988.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio.
Works for Large Ensemble (10 performers and more)
(יצירות לאנסמבלים גדולים (10 משתתפים ומעלה
Dancing Memory Fish
דג זיכרון רוקד
For voice and 10 instruments (woodwind quartet, string quartet, double bass, percussion, 17 min., 2012).
Text: Harold Schimell, alongside 3 folk children songs (in English, Arabic, German, Ladino).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) and the Israeli Contemporary Players. Conductor: Ilan Volkov, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, June 2012.
Cosmic Progressions in the Heart II
תהליכים קוסמיים בלב 2
For 10 instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, accordion, percussion, 14 min., 2011) .
Commissioned and premiered by ensemble El Perro Andaluz, Dresden, Feb. 2012.
Moving/Stills
For 15 instruments and 8 voices. (17 min., 1999).
La Vita di Sempre
For mezzo-soprano, 2 narrators & 11 instruments (woodwind quartet, trumpet, horn, string quartet and percussion, 15 min., 1987/93).
Text: Inge Steinberg (in Italian & French).
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Musica Nova ensemble, Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1994.
The Old Man Who Said Why
האיש הזקן שאמר למה
For mezzo-soprano & 9 instruments (woodwind quartet, string quartet, percussion, 15 min., 1990).
Text: various poets (multi lingual).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Musica Nova ensemble. Conductor: Itay Talgam, Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1990.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio.
Chamber Works (up to 9 performers)
יצירות קאמריות (אנסמבלים עד 9 משתתפים)
Bagatella Molto Viva
בגטלה
For 6 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2 min., 2018).
Commissioned by & dedicated to Boston Musica Viva ensemble and to their conductor Richard Pittman, as part of series of bagatelles by various composers dedicated to the ensemble's 50th anniversary.
Premier: Boston Musica Viva, Boston, Oct. 2018.
Now
עכשיו
For voice and 4 instruments (cello, double bass, guitar, percussion, 16 min., 2017).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Tel Aviv, March 2017.
Spinning
טווייה
For voice and 7 instruments (recorder, violin, cello, double bass, guitar, accordion, percussion, 8 min., 2016).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble. Premier: Israel Music Fest, Beer Sheva Oct. 2016.
Circular Waves
For wind quintet (9 min., 2016).
Composed for and premiered by the Tel Aviv Quintet, Tel-Aviv, Sept. 2016.
Assembly of the Souls
התוועדות הנשמות
For voice & 7 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, accordion, piano, percussion, 20 min., 2014).
Commission: Boston Musica Viva & conductor Richard Pittman.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Boston Musica Viva ensemble. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Tzai Performance Center, Boston, USA, Sept. 2014.
Israeli premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Israeli Contemporary Players. Conductor: Guy Feder, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Sept. 2017.
Quiet Reflections
השתקפויות שקטות
For violin & viola (15 min., 2014).
Composed for a dance piece by Butoh dancer Maya Dunsky (“Table of Silence”).
Premier: Yael Barolsky (violin) & Amit Landau (viola), Tel Aviv, Nov. 2014.
Movimiento per Quarteto D'archi
פרק לרביעיית כלי קשת
For string quartet (2014).
Commission: Israel Composers' League's project "Composing for young musicians".
Premier: The youth string quartet of Tivon Conservatory, Tel-Aviv, June 2014.
Yonim Yonim
יונים יונים
For two voices (10 min., 2013).
Composed for voice artists Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick.
Studio version:
Recorded by vocalists Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick (parts of the piece were used to accompany the video-art "Ramid" by Orit Adar-Bechar).
Concert version:
For 2 voices and sound track.
Premiered by vocalists Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick, Tel Aviv, Nov. 2014.
Stairs of the Unknown
מדרגות הנסתר
For voice & 5 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello piano, 13 min., 2009).
Text: Raquel Chalfi (in 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 on Etty BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.
Travvveling
For 2 voices (5 min., 2006).
Text: E. E. Cummings (in English).
Composed for and premiered by voice artists Etty BenZaken & Anat Pick, Festival "Kola shel Ha-mila", Jerusalem, March 2006.
Milmulin
מילמולין
For a Shaman & 2 percussionists (15 min., 2005).
Text: Etty BenZaken (Imaginary language).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice), with percussionists Karen Penpimon-Zehavi & Abe Doron, Department of Theater, Tel-Aviv University, May 2004.
Rava Deravin (instrumental version)
רעוא דרעוין - גרסה כלית
For viola & string quartet (16 min., 2003).
Composed for and premiered by Kim Kashkashian (viola) & Kuss Quartet, Kronberg Viola Festival, Kronberg, Germany, May 2003.
American premier: by Kashkashian & Kuss Quartet, Boston, USA, 2006.
Featured on "Neharot" CD, ECM Records, 2009.
At Chilwe
את חילווה
For voice & 6 instruments (flute, Arabic violin, Viola, double- bass, percussion, 16 min., 2003)
Text: Koby Viner (Hebrew and Arabic).
Commission: "Aley Shir" in memory of Dany Cohen.
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & "Shesh Besh – the Arab-Jewish Ensemble", "Aley Shir" concert in memory of Dany Cohen, Kibbutz Mizra, Feb. 2003.
Featured on BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.
Where The Peace River Flows
נהר השלום זורם שם
For voice & 7 instruments (15 min., 2002).
Text: Walt Whitman (multi lingual).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & soloists from the Israel Philharmonic, “New Music Biennale” Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Oct. 2002.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio.
Rava Deravin
רעוא דרעוין
For voice & 6 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 14 min., 2001).
Text: Ha’ari (in Aramaic).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Boston Musica Viva ensemble. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Boston, USA, Nov. 2002.
Israeli premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Israeli Contemporary Players, Tel-Aviv, Dec. 2002.
Featured on Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.
Featured on the CD "BenZaken sings Steinberg and Bardanashvili", 2010.
Transparent Rain
גשם שקוף
For voice & piano (4 min., 2001).
Text: Israel Pinkas (in Hebrew).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Irena Friedland (piano), Haifa University, Feb. 2005.
Featured on Etty BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.
Fragile
שביר
For 6 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 8 min., 2000).
Commission: Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players.
Premier: by BCCP, University of California, Berkeley, April 2000.
Israeli premier: by Musica Nova ensemble, 2001.
Featured on Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.
Guitardion
For guitar quartet (10 min., 2000).
Commission: San Francisco Guitar Quartet.
Talk Talk Talk
For strings trio (5 min., 1997).
Commission: Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
Premier: at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, March 1998, Jerusalem, Israel.
Featured on Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.
Two Grandfathers Sing
שני סבים שרים
For flute and string quartet (11 min., 1996).
Composed for and premiered by Rami Tal (flute) & Musica Nova ensemble, Tel-Aviv, Israel, May 1996.
Featured on Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.
In a Hidden Cleft Among Cliffs a Gazelle Drinks Water (duo version)
בנקיק נסתר בצוקים - גרסת דואו
For voice & viola (10 min., 1996).
Text: various poets (multi lingual).
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Michelle Dulak (viola), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Oct. 1996.
Featured on Eitan Steinberg’s CD "Rava Deravin – Boston Musica Viva in Eitan Steinberg's Chamber Works", 2002.
Song of the Bride's Mother
שיר אם-הכלה
For voice and 3 violas (6 min., 1994).
Text: Judeo-Spanish folk song from Morocco (in Ladino).
Composed for and premiered with Etty BenZaken (voice), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Nov. 1994.
Silent Eyes
עיניים שקטות
For voice & 6 instruments (recorder, string trio, ud, tabla, 10 min., 1991).
Text: Yehuda Halevy (in Hebrew)
Composed for and premiered with Etty BenZaken (voice), Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1991.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio.
Simplicity
פשטות
For voice & 3 instruments (soprano saxophone, accordion, guitar, 10 min., 1990).
Text: 3 folksongs, alongside text by E. E. Cummings (in Arabic, Bulgarian, English, Ladino).
Composed for and premiered with Etty BenZaken (voice), Tel-Aviv, Israel, March 1990.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio.
Choral Works
יצירות למקהלה
Sod Hakavana ("The Secret of Intention")
סוד הכוונה
For 6 choirs (3 children choirs, 3 mixed choirs) & 5 percussionists (25 min., 2014).
Text: various poets (multi lingual).
Commission: Israel's Ministry of Culture and Sport.
Premier: Israeli and Estonian choirs, Tremolo percussion ensemble. Conductor: Andres Mustonen, “Mustonen Fest” Tallinn-Tel-Aviv Festival, Ashdod and Tel-Aviv, Israel, Feb. 2018.
Estonian premier: Estonian Choirs conducted by Andres Mustonen, Feb. 2019.
Adam-ma
אדם-מה
For mixed choir (7 min., 2010).
Text: multi lingual fragments (in Hebrew, English, Latin).
Commissioned and premiered by "Kolot Hasade" choir. Conductor: Anat Aharoni, Israel, May 2010.
Very Good To Be
טוב מאד להיות
For youth mixed choir (8 min., 2004).
Text: Etty BenZaken (in Hebrew).
Commissioned and premiered by "Nofar" choir. Conductor: Miri Sadeh, Karmiel, June 2004.
Arvoles Yoran Por Luvias
For mixed choir (4 min., 1999).
Text: Judeo-Spanish folk song (in Ladino).
Premier: Romeo and Julia choir, Stockholm, Sweden, 2000.
The Prayer of The Ba’al Shem
תפילת הבעל שם טוב
For mixed chorus (4 min., 1998).
Text: traditional (in Hebrew).
Commission: Northern California Board of Cantors.
Premier: 4th Annual Bay Area Jewish Choral Fest, San Francisco, March 1998.
Moroccan Poem
פיוט מרוקאי
For children’s chorus (2 min., 1993) (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.
Sails Out of Sleep
לשוט מהחלום
For mixed chorus (11 min., 1989).
Text: various poets (multi lingual).
Premier: Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 1991.
American Premier: UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus. Conductor: John Butt, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Nov. 1996.
Solo Works
יצירות סולו
Air Drawings
רישומי אוויר
For Bass clarinet solo (6.5 min., 2020).
Miniature
מיניאטורה
For cembalo solo (1 min., 2020).
Whirling stillness
שקט מסוחרר
For piano solo (9 min., 2019).
Transparent Distance
מרחק שקוף
For organ solo (9 min., 2011).
Composed for and premiered by Yuval Rabin, Hecht Auditorium, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel, February 2012.
Featured on the CD "Highlights of the 2011/12 Organ Recital Series, University of Haifa, 2013.”
Little Inner Events
אירועים פנימיים קטנים
For harp solo (8 min., 2008).
Commission: Harp & Zamir Society, the 17th International Harp Contest, Israel. Premier: Gittit Boazson (harp), Felicia Blumenthal Center, May 2009.
Where Did We Go Wrong, Thank You
איפה תעינו, תודה רבה
For voice solo (13 min., 2003).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice), Hecht Hall, Haifa, May 2003.
Featured on BenZaken’s CD “Voice Drawings", 2013.
Angel’s Steps
צעדי מלאך
For piano solo (8 min., 1998).
Composed for and premiered by pianist Sarah Cahill, Hertz Hall, Berkeley, May 1999.
For Two and a Half Years
שתי שנים ומחצה
For voice & electronics. (6 min., 1995).
Text: from the Talmud (in Hebrew).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice), CNMAT - Center for New Music and Audio-Technology, Berkeley, Dec. 1995.
Open
פתוח
For piano solo (8 min., 1994).
Commission: the Jerusalem Museum Music Series, Jerusalem, Israel.
Premier: pianist Sarah Cahill, ODC Gallery, San Francisco, Nov. 1996.
Moods
מצבי רוח
For mandolin solo (6 min., 1987).
Premier: Yonatan Roshfeld (mandolin), Tel-Aviv, Israel, Dec. 1987.
Four Pictures for Solo Guitar
ארבע תמונות לגיטרה סולו
(6 min., 1986)
Premier: Shlomo Oz (guitar), Jerusalem, Aug. 1986.
Recorded by the Israeli Radio, with guitarist Daniel Akiva.
Projects of Folk Songs Arrangements
פרויקטים של עיבודים לשירי-עם
The Streets of Our Childhood
ברחובות ילדותנו
Arrangements of folk children songs from ethnic communities in Israel (60 min., 2017).
Texts: folk songs (in 12 languages).
Composed for Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble (recorder, violin, cello, guitar, double bass, percussion)
Premier: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Israeli Music Festival, Zikhron Ya’akov, Sep. 2017.
At The Castle's Window
בחלון הטירה
Arrangements of Spanish and Judeo-Spanish anonymous medieval songs (20 min., 2017).
Composed for Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble (recorder, lute, cello, percussion).
Texts: folk songs (in Spanish & Ladino).
Premier: BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Open University Concert Series, Feb. 2017.
Joy שמחה فرحه
Arrangements of folk songs from ethnic communities in Israel, alongside short early and contemporary pieces (60 min., 2014).
Composed for Etty BenZaken (voice) & Modalius ensemble (recorder, Arabic violin, cello, guitar, double bass, percussion).
Texts: folk & traditional songs (multi lingual).
Premier: Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, Felicja Blumental International Music Festival, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, March 2014.
Additional Version (4 songs) for voice & 6 instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion). Premier: Etty BenZaken & Boston Musica Viva ensemble. Conductor: Richard Pittman, Boston, USA, Sept. 2014.
Folk Songs of Labor and Protest
שירי עבודה ומחאה
Arrangements of folk songs for voice & guitar (30 min., 2009).
Texts: folk songs (multi lingual).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar), Folklore and Ideology: the Inter-Universities Conference for Folklore Research, University of Haifa, May 2009.
2 Judeo-Spanish folk songs
Arranged for middle-eastern orchestra (7 min., 2009).
Commission and premier: Middle-Eastern Ensemble, University of Texas, Austin, May 2010.
I Love My Love
Arrangements of folk songs, for voice & guitar (60 min., 2006).
Texts: folk songs (multi lingual).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar), Fool-Wise Storytelling Festival, Malta, Dec. 2006,
Additional version: for Voice & 4 instruments (recorders, guitar, cello and ethnic percussion), premiered with Etty BenZaken, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Dec. 2007.
4 Ladino folk songs
Arranged for voice and 10 instruments (16 min., 2005).
Texts: folk songs (Ladino).
Commission: Renaissance Festival, Yechiam, Israel.
Premier: with Etty BenZaken and the festival's ensemble, Yechiam, Oct. 2005.
3 medieval Dances
Arranged for 10 instruments. (17 min., 2005).
Commission and premier: Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, Jul. 2005.
6 folk songs
Arranged for voice and 7-10 instruments (20 min., 2005).
Texts: folk songs (multi lingual).
Premier: with BenZaken as soloist, University of Haifa, the 32nd Annual Board Meeting.
The Bride Unfastens Her Braids, The Groom Faints
הכלה מתירה צמותיה, החתן מתעלף
Arrangements of Judeo Spanish love songs (90 min., ongoing project since 1998).
Texts: folk songs (Ladino)
Voice & ensemble versions:
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Ensemble Yatán Atán (recorders, guitar, cello/viola da gamba & ethnic percussion), Hertz Hall, Berkeley, Oct. 1998.
Recorded and broadcasted live by the Israeli Radio.
Recorded on Israel TV channel 2.
Featured on the CD "The Bride Unfastens Her Braids, the Groom Faints" New Albion Records, 1999.
Voice & orchestra version:
Commission: Israeli Chamber Orchestra.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice & the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, March 2004.
Voice & guitar Version:
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken (voice) & Oded Shoub (guitar).
Special version for ensemble "Hortus Musicus", Estonia
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Hortus Musicus ensemble, Tallinn, Estonia, March 2014.
Other versions were arranged by Steinberg for voice, violin & piano, and for voice, harp & percussion.
Various Arrangements
עיבודים שונים
Six Haiku by John Cage
Arranged (from Cage’s solo piano sketches) for 5 players (recorder, cello, double bass, guitar, accordion, 5 min., 2018).
Composed for and premiered by Modalius ensemble, May 2018.
Pari Intervallo by Arvo Part
Arranged (from Part’s solo organ) for voice & 4 instruments (flute, cello, double bass, guitar, 7 min., 2017).
Composed for and premiered by Etty BenZaken & Modalius ensemble, March 2017.
Ad by Alexander Argov
עד
Arranged (from Argov’s song) for String Quartet (4 min., 2008).
Composed for and premiered by the Israeli Contemporary Quartet, Spring Festival Rishon Letzion, April 2008.
La Passion Segun San Marco by Osvaldo Golijov (excerpts)
Arranged (from Golijov’s music for voices & large ensemble) for voice & 7 instruments (string quartet, guitar, accordion, percussion, 15 min., 2005).
Commission: the International Spring Festival in Rishon Le'tzion, Israel.
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) and the festival’s ensemble. Conductor: Eitan Steinberg, April 2005.
Stabat Mater by Antonio Vivaldi
Arranged (from Vivaldi’s score for voice & chamber orchestra) for voice & string quartet (25 min., 2004)
Premier: Etty BenZaken (voice) & Israeli Contemporary Quartet, The Voice of Music Festival in Upper Galilee, 2004.