The work focuses on one section of Mishnat Hazohar, occurring at the time of the reading of the Shema prayer, and describing the preparations for the great wedding night in the Garden of Eden, joined by many characters from the angelic Heavenly Host. It portrays an inspiring depiction of a mating and marriage ceremony full of sensuality and sexuality.
About the Music
The keyword for my musical composition is Sh’mah (Hear), the primary word in the text of the Zohar, “when Israel performs the mystery unification of Shema Yisrael.” To that “when”, a description of time, I add also sound and place, which together describe the spectacle depicted in the text. The musicality stems directly from the words, not in their narrative order and understanding, but as words that create space, time, sound, and characters. The characters, some earthly, others heavenly, are those who populate that spectacle, and it is they who shape the work of composition with the questions: What are their voices? What are their melodies? As someone who comes mainly from instrumental music, the exclusive use of performers’ voices in this production was a great challenge for me. I am pleased to say the process was an experience of discovery of the voice as a living artistic instrument, with an interesting ensemble blessed with talent. Rali Margalit
The work premiered in October 2010 at the Lab Theater in Jerusalem as part of the Mahol Baruach (Dance in Spirit) project, in conjunction with the Choreographers Society, Bet Avi Chai, and the Lab Theater.
Choreography, idea and direction: Smadar Emor
Musical composition and direction: Rali Margalit.
(The section “Asreichem Yisrael…” is an ancient Persian lit urgical poem).
Costume: Rakefet Levi.
Ensemble: Keren Elon, Sophia Shistik, Daphna Shapira Hason, Bernika Schneider, Hamotal Fleischer Kanel, Dana Reznik, Yael Cohen, Dalyat Shaskin.
“Paper and Writing dress” – Daphna Shapira Hason, from “Ketivat Kallah”, Performance art 2006
Musical Composition and Directoin: The keyword for my musical composition is “Shema(“Hear”), the primary word in the text of the Zohar: “When Israel performs the mystery unification of Shema Yisrael” … To that “when”, a description of time, I have tried to add also sound and place, which together describe the spectacle depicted in the text. The musicality stemmed directly from the words, not in their narrative order and understanding, but as words that create space, time, sound, and characters. The characters, some earthly, others heavenly, are those who populate that spectacle, and it is they who shaped the work of composition, with the question – what are their voices? What are their melodies? As someone who comes mainly from instrumental music, the exclusive use of performers’ voices, as it was done in this production, was a great challenge for me. I am pleased to say the process was an experience of discovery of the voice as a living artistic instrument, with an interesting ensemble blessed with talent.
back back