Celebration (Friedman)
by Gary William Friedman

A Simchas Torah OratorioA very modern-sounding oratorio which was performed as part of the Simchas Torah service at Temple Israel, New York City.

Friedman's composition, which was performed by a 10-piece orchestra and sung by the choirs of the congregation, is a blend of several musical styles sung in both English and Hebrew.

It is a happy piece, combining elements of jazz, rock, classical, sacred and folk music, using Hebrew words in a distinctively contemporary setting.

It is a bright, lively and quite imaginative score that manages to be exciting and interesting, and really quite reverent in its own way.