Date of Award

8-9-2014

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

School of Music

Sub-Department

Music Performance

First Advisor

Larry Wyatt

Abstract

Aharon Harlap (b. 1941) is one of Israel’s most prominent and well-known composers and conductors. He was born in Canada and immigrated to Israel in 1964 where his compositions have won numerous awards. His musical output is in a variety of genres: cantatas, oratorios, a capella, chamber and orchestral. Harlap's compositions have been performed in Israel, Canada, the United States, and South Africa, and he has appeared as guest conductor with the major orchestras in Israel, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, the Kibbutzim Chamber Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Harlap's religious beliefs have often drawn him to set his choral works to Biblical texts. David and Goliath is a cantata on the Hebrew text of Samuel I chapter 17, orchestrated for tenor or mezzo-soprano, baritone and bass soloists, SATB mixed choir, flute, harp and strings. The composition was originally scored for soloists, mixed chorus and piano and was later orchestrated. Even though David and Goliath was commissioned by the N.Y. Zamir Chorale it was never performed by them. The piano version is dedicated to Matthew Lazzar and the Zamir Chorale, but was premiered by Yuval Ben Ozer and the New Vocal Ensemble on March 27, 2009 at the Tel-Aviv Museum Auditorium. The orchestrated version of the piece was premiered on March 24, 2010 with the composer conducting the Ashdod Symphony Orchestra, and the Kfar Sava Chamber Choir. The purpose of this study is to bring to light a wonderful, but relatively unknown, choral piece and provide a complete analysis along with biographical information on this highly acclaimed composer.

Rights

© 2014, TOMMER N. HESSEG

Included in

Music Commons

Share

COinS