“David’s Quilt”

The story of King David in music

By Arlene Stolnitz

I am always amazed and thrilled when I hear of contemporary composers using Biblical themes for their work. Such is the story of the Helfman Composer’s Group associated with the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Together, and under the auspices of the Milken Center of Music for Jewish Experience, they have created an oratorio based on the life of King David — musician, warrior, lover and ruler.

Fifteen Jewish composers with diverse backgrounds have produced 18 pieces of music for orchestra, choir, soloists and dancers. The result is a tapestry much like a beautiful fabric being pieced together. The idea of the tapestry or quilt is “to get you into David’s head, what he was feeling….”

So how did this idea get started? The idea was envisioned about 10 years ago by Cantor Phil Baron of Valley Beth Shalom, a large Conservative synagogue in Encino, California. Cantor Baron had been a songwriter for Disney Studios and had also created successful awardwinning music series for Jewish children. Eventually though, his strong Jewish background as a trained cantor pulled him in a different direction.

His idea was to invite a group of gifted and experienced Jewish songwriters, who were actively engaged in composing, but not writing, Jewish music. He invited a group of composers to attend a two-day retreat with an outstanding faculty at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute in Simi Valley. (I have been there and can vouch for the place as being inspirational.) That was in 2010, and what has followed has been an amazing and creative contribution of music to the liturgy of today’s synagogue music.

The Institute was named for the renowned composer and conductor Max Helfman, whose philosophy about Jewish music, I have quoted below.

“Some think there is a wall between Jew and gentile: but the real wall is between the Jew and himself: the young Jew who has turned away from his heritage and in so doing, has turned his back on a rich creative past … they will argue with you ... but you cannot argue with a song or with a dance.” -Max Helfman

Helfman thought, “The arts are a great way for people to bind their Jewish soul.”

Entitled the “Max Helfman Institute for New Jewish Music,” its formation was aided by a substantial grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles and the endorsement of the Milken Center.

Reading the bios of the Helfman Institute Fellows (as they are called) is an experience in itself. Each of the composers, who are classically trained musicians, have had extensive experience in film and TV, and many are Emmy Award-winning composers. Most have had backgrounds in Judaic music.

There have been some non-Jewish “visitors.” In particular, was a Korean Julliard student and a composer from Mexico. More recently, graduate students from the music school have participated, adding diversity to the group.

The composers were told to write in each of their own styles, resulting in a mix that is greatly varied. According to Cantor Baron, who directs the program, the flaws of Biblical David’s character make him perfect for this ambitious musical undertaking.

A few titles of the works are, “Valley of Shadows” by Cantor Phil Baron, “When I Open My Mouth” by Rebekah Mirsky, “Halleluja’ by Dr. David Lefkowitz, and “Beauty and the Dance of Wonder” and “David Dancing the Ark to Jerusalem” by Dr. Michelle Green Willner.

The piece took two years to produce and debuted in a live performance on November 5, 2017, at the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles.

The group has now written more than 40 pieces and is currently developing a major new work in partnership with the recently endowed UCLA Mickey Katz Chair in Jewish Music.

More information about the group can be found on YouTube under “David’s Quilt.”