Notes from Cantor Avima

     I would not be surprised if the name Nurit Hirsh is not familiar to many of you. But you certainly know at least two of her most most well known compositions. (And, she has composed about 1,000 songs!). We sing what is probably her most famous song almost every week at services as do most congregations. It was written for the Hassidic Song Festival of 1968. The text is from last line of the Kaddish prayer. I think that is enough hints for you to guess that I am talking about Oseh Shalom. It has been such a synagogue standard for over 50 years that many people probably would refer to it as the "traditional" melody. You can hear the original sung by Yigal Bashan Oseh Shalom Hassidic Song Festival Yig'al Bashan. 

     In 2019, Nurit Hirsh was honored by the North American Jewish Choral Festival and you can see her here performing the song. Nurit Hirsh at the North American Choral Festival 2018.  There are of course so many performances of this song. Here is a beautiful performance by the Hazamir (teen) Gala Concert in 2019 accompanied by Matthew Lazar and conducted by Dr. Marsha Bryan Edelman. Oseh Shalom Hazamir Gala Concert 2019.  You might notice that although it is a common practice in many congregations to add a final "v'nomar amen" to the end of the song, that is not how the song was written. 

     Nurit Hirsh was born in 1942, studied at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv majoring in piano and also studied clarinet. While serving in the IDF band, she composed for many of the various army ensembles. She discovered the world of jazz and studied with many Israeli jazz musicians. Following her army service, she continued her studies at UCLA and focused on film scoring, electronic and contemporary music. She composed the soundtracks for 14 Israeli films as well as composed and conducted the music for hit Israeli musical Sallah Shabati written by Efraim Kishon.  

     There is another super famous song you will all recognize. The song was written by Ehud Manor in memory of his brother, Yehuda Weiner who was killed during his military service in 1968. The song expressed Ehud Manor's longing to spend more time with his brother. Hirsh's first composition was a melancholy melody in 6/8 time. The song was to be sung by the Israeli singer, Ilanit. Her manager, Shlomo Zach didn't feel it suited Ilanit's style so he requested a more joyful and uplifting melody. The rhythm was adjusted to 4/4 time and the closing lyrics were changed from referring to a setting sun to a rising sun. "A white cloud will spread its wings in the light, and the sun will RISE within it". The original lyric said "the sun will set within it" as this was the view  Ehud Manor saw saw from his home balcony which faced the west. Here is the song which you will all recognize: Ilanit Bashanah Haba'ah and here it is covered by the Maccabeats in 2020. Maccabeats Bashanah Haba'ah. 

     In 1971, her song Abanibi won first prize in the Eurovision contest. Abanibi. One of my favorite songs of Nurit Hirsh is the song "Perach Halilach/The Lilac Flower". 

THE LILAC FLOWER

Today we'll maybe keep the night from coming, and we won't stretch out to the starlight
why, we do have everything that's asked for, without word we'll know this, for we'll love.

Today we'll maybe keep away our road's end, and we won't remember that everything ends.
It's the path on which our feet tread, the grass won't dry on the two ends of it.

We'll love quietly because for you and I, it is enough without words that are those
that aren't able to say any other way, how nicely the lilac blooms.

Today we'll maybe keep away the gief, iif we walk hand in hand, in the light,
for the wind blows frost in the darkness, only in the place that your name isn't heard.

We'll love quietly...

Today we'll maybe keep the leaf from falling, and autumn won't be able to arrive.
Many ways rule the spring season -if only the light of your smile would love'em.

We'll love quietly...

Here it is: Perach Halilach (sung by Chava Alberstein)