Kibbutz Dance
Date Added: November 02, 2007
MP3 Description:
Short Description of Song This is one of a set of 10 compositions for piano solo based on 10 paintings by Tea Sternklar, depicting scenes and events in the land of Israel. Long Description of Song The paintings show two groups of dancers in a field, more than likely at a Kibbutz. The music is taking advantage of an acoustical phenomenon that occurs when two groups of dancers dance simultaneously to a single source of music, outdoors. If one were able to view these dancers from above, as from a helicopter, the two groups will not seem to dance in step with each other. The source of music reaches each group at a slightly different moment in time. This is accomplished in the composition by using two different meters or time signatures at the same time. The right hand plays in 8/8 time while the left plays in 7/8, the rhythmic pulses and accents are thus in constant conflict with each other. The effect is powerful, the performance rather complex for the pianist who must resist the temptation to play the two hands “in step” with each other. Story Behind the Song This is one of a set of 10 compositions for piano solo based on 10 paintings by Tea Sternklar, depicting scenes and events in the land of Israel. The title: A PROMISE FULFILLED, has a double meaning. First, the work attempts to represent the achievements and the promise made by the people of Israel to fulfill their dreams. Secondly, the music fulfilled a “promise” made by the composer to collaborate some day with his mother, the artist, and compose music based on her art-work. Once the decision was made to compose the work, a search began to find a musical element that could provide a certain unity for all the movements. The choice was made to integrate a certain gesture that is rather prevalent in Israel. When two Israelis meet in the street one will often ask, “How are things?” The response will often be “Kacha, kacha”, or “so, so”. At the same time the hand will rotate in a semi-circular fashion. This gesture was translated musically by the composer with the use of a brief motive consisting of two pitches, first moving downward, then upward. This incredibly brief motive (motif) was enough to spawn an entire work lasting about 40 minutes! Hardly any measure in any of the various movements omits reference to at least a variant of this elementary musical gesture. The motif helps to give the entire work a unifying element although the moods and characters of each number differ dramatically.
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