Program :
La passerelle sacree : Juifs et Chretiens dans l'Europe medievale
The Sacred bridge : Jews and Christians in medieval Europe.

Performed by the Boston Camerata, directed by J. Cohen

A. Azema (Soprano, percusions)
Joel Cohen (Barytone, percussions, lute)
Joel Frederiksen (Barytone, lute, percussions)
Jesse Lepkoff (Flute, Recorder, lute)
Carol Lewis (Viele)


Boray ad ana/Criador hasta cuando
Al Naharot bavel (Psalm 137)
Psalm 114
Mi al har horeb (Obadiah le proselyte)
Par grant'franchise (Matthieu le juif)
Wa heb'uf (Sueskint von Trimberg)
La vie d'un poete (Isaac Gorni)
En ciudad noble
Morena me Llaman
La rosa enflorescce
Eftach sefatai berinah (Carpentras)

Pause

Responde nos, Dio de Abraham
Virjen Madre gloriosa (Alfonso el Sabio)
Kaddish
Madre de Dios (Alfonso el Sabio)
Des oge mais (Alfonso el Sabio)
Grant dereit (Alfonso el Sabio)
Cuando el Rey Nimrod
Ahot Ketana (Abraham de Gerona)
Muit e benaventurado (Alfonso el Sabio)
El nora alila

To say it short, the more I hear this ensemble, the more I find them
lively, perfectly in the music they interpret. It's a complete re-creation
to which we assisted. The most important is probably the choices of the
pieces and the construction of the program. Thanks to his introductions,
Joel let us enter in the mystery of of the Sacred Bridge. I want just to
underline some songs : the most moving was undoubtfuly La rosa enfloresce,
where the voice of Anne Azema floated in the museum, underlined by suave
melodic lines from the flute. It was a great moment of poetry and musical
inspiration. The story of Gorni was a pure amusement cooked with art by
Joel himself. The last one, El nora alila, on the other side was full of joy
and energy, all three singers gave a proof of their harmony and common
understanding of the repertoire. Again, that's why I go to the concert :
to find people looking at each other, when a good thong (tm) is made.

All the happy Bostonian people reading that can easily imagine the pleasure
and the charm under which we were at the end of that memorable concert.

On the program Joel insisted on the fact that this was a time of peace,
between different religions, in the same countries (as in Spain), and he
hoped that it could be the same in a near future for our world (it's really
not the words used by Joel, which were more profound, but I can't explain
that better than him -:()

Then came the time of reward -:)

Joel had kindly invited us to the ceremony, so I may give you the general
idea of that moment.

The ministre of culture was represented by Mr Martin, Director of Music and
Dance. In his speech, he underline the fact that after one hour of hearing
Joel and his group, we had the impresion to be their friends. the best
word,for
him to qualify his attitude was warm. He also said that we, in Europe, had
the luck to see such groups, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and come to play
the repertoire of "Old Europe". He noticed that this concrt was a subtle
alchemy between Research, science, and warnth, angagement. And above all
the science is not there to be shown but to serve the purpose of the
musician.
He also recalled the long work made between Joel and french organisations,
such
as Radio France, and Erato (now in Warner NDR : BTW all the staff of Erato
was
there)
Here Joel is made Knight of the Arts and Letters under a lot of applauds
(really -:)

Then Joel took the place, and said that he was really honored by such a
distinction, above all because he was not french, and that the french people
were not
obliged to give it to him.He dedicated that medal to his Franch Teacher (who
gave him the bases of grammar). He remembered, at that occasion that these
organisations, mainly dedicated to culture, should be helped in the USA. He
thanked also all the people who have helped him in his work, and of course
particularly, the members of the Bston Camerata. He recalled that he came for
the first time in France in 1965, to learn with Nadia Boulanger, and that he
lived at that time in a small hotel, very grimy, and it was a great chock for
him when he first saw the Musee de Cluny.
He ended by wishing the continuity of pretty things for the happiness of the
humanity.

Other applauds took place here and then we had the time to drink some
Champagne
-:))

After that, I had the possibility to talk to Joel and Anne, who are in their
life as their are on the scene, kind, nice and very competent. Joel said
to me that he want to thank the group (you -:) for your encouragements
and your congratulations for his nomination. As the only member of r.m.e
here I took the important decision to congratulate him again in your name
of all of you. He also gave me some onformations on new records : one on
angel voices, another on lamentations (Gilles Bouzignac Carpentras), and
he hoped to record the "Airs de cour" during 1996. (That was also confirmed
by the Artistic director of Erato, and I insisted that he do that as soons
as possible, and that he already had a client -:) He will also take some
time to publish some of his researchs.

The end of this delightful day let us keep in our minds the charming voice
of Anne Azema singing slowly very long notes (without vibrato -:) mixed to
the sound of the flute... Hummmm

I've been already too long, and I'm now late for my rehearsal -:))
Have an happy week, and I hope you'll see one of their concert soon,
it's really worth it.
--
Bruno.


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