We especially enjoy bringing little known choral gems to our audiences, and here is an example from our May 18, 2014 concert, performed at Larchmont Avenue Church in Larchmont, New York. The composer is Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968), and the selection is the “Shiviti” from his Memorial Service for the Departed.  The soloist is Erik Contzius, Cantor of Temple Israel of New Rochelle, New York, and also a composer.

We are singing in Hebrew; the words are taken from Psalm 16, verses 8-9.

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely.

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco fled his native Italy in 1939 and came to the U.S. He is remembered today for his compositions for guitar and also for the many film scores he wrote for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His Memorial Service has not been much performed, however. Enjoy!