Media Vita - The New Music Student Choir of Musrara

The New Music Student Choir of Musrara - Media Vita
From BITTER DREAMERS - a performance at MusraraMix Festival, Jerusalem | 30.5.2023
Conductor and Artistic Director: Tomer Damsky
Text: Anonymous Benedictine monk (St. Gall, 10th century) | Music: Trad. Gregorian
Arrangement: Michael McGlynn
Choir members: Eran Ivgi, Or Aloni, Roni Arad, Luna Bellity, Shaul Dahan, Or David, Yuval Itzhaki, Yael Kalif, Tomer Naftali, Ilay Skotelsky, Noya Fox, Mika Tzur, Yoav Tzemach, Keren Rotstein, Shelly Reizis, Stav Shdema, Noga Shalit Glick, Ryan Shaaban, Eden Shaked.
Assistant conductor: Noya Fox
“O firstborn Father, who created the beings, a mystery that continues to grow and unveil; O owner of the road, let me pass” (Suyere to Oddua, ancient Yoruba burial ceremony, unknown date).
How does vocal music function in processes of departure and escorting into the unknown? The New Music Student Choir of Musrara presents the outcome of a performative interpretation lab with a repertoire that unpacks states of grief, loss, and cleansing. Between sinking in the river of sorrow and floating on the wings of the bitter laugh of disillusionment, we have gathered together songs from musical traditions near and far. Through various points on the spectrum between sacred and profane, words in Latin, Russian, French, Yoruba, Hebrew, English, and Aramaic unfold, and a space opens up to shed tears, dream, and perhaps, move on.