By David Amos
SAN DIEGO–It is not too frequent when I get to attend a concert which has such impact, both artistically and socially. This was the case on Saturday, April 25, when the combined forces of the San Diego State University Orchestra, Aztec Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, a children’s choir, the Mira Costa College Chamber Choir, the St. Cecilia Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Palomar College Chamber singers, Cantor Larry Kornit, and various soloists, were all superbly conducted by SDSU’s Patrick Walders.
The composition was To be Certain of the Dawn, composed by the late Stephen Paulus, with text by Michael Dennis Browne, who was present at the performance which took place at the 1200 seat College Avenue Baptist Church. From my vantage, every seat was filled.
The contents of the oratorio is a fully committed work to the Holocaust, with Biblical quotations in Hebrew and English. Every name listed above is of a Christian, with the only exception being Cantor Kornit.
From the composer, and quoting from the program notes: “ To be Certain of the Dawn was commissioned by the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, as a gift to Temple Israel Synagogue in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps in 1945, and the 40th anniversary of the Vatican document Nostra Aetate. It evolved over four years–, beginning with the idea of Fr. Michael O’Donnell, then rector of the Basilica, that Christians must own and teach about the Holocaust as much as, or more than Jews. It was he who decided that an oratorio would be a powerful vehicle for communicating to individuals and communities that children are key to prevention of genocide, both today and in the future.”
“There are three main sections to the work, RENEWAL, REMEMBRANCE, and VISIONS. It opens with three blasts of the Shofar, positioned between three violent and discordant hammer strokes from the orchestra. It settles into a quiet and ominous setting of the Shema, as sung by the cantor.”
From there, it continues into various sections, of deep emotion. The music is in the contemporary style, but very approachable and comfortable to hear. Around the middle of the work, there is a very touching intermezzo, played by the strings and titled “Veil of Tears”. The generous printed program gave credit to all participants and included the entire text, which was mostly in English, but included plenty of Hebrew, and even one sentence in German.
The librettist, Michael Dennis Browne, explains it best in his own words: “To be Certain of the Dawn commemorates the Jewish children, almost a million and a half of them, who were murdered during the Shoah. The faces of the children are the sun, moon, and stars of this work. (There were projections on two screens of children of the Holocaust, including Anne Frank). It intends a message of hope for the children of today’s world; as the common, profound saying goes, ‘You cannot tell children there is no hope’. This work is written as a triptych. The first section reveals Christian contrition for all the centuries of ‘the teaching of contempt’ as well as a desire to return to our spiritual roots and seek a new beginning as partners in faith with the Jews”.
The performances were excellent all around. Everyone was well prepared. I was especially impressed by conductor Dr. Patrick Walders for his obvious professional and thorough knowledge of the complicated score with its many sections and moods, and Cantor Kornit for chanting the opening, ending, and other sections, giving the work a unifying element.
Not since 1964, when my wife and I played in the orchestra for the premiere of the late David Ward-Steinman’s oratorio “The Song of Moses” have I heard from SDSU a work of such force, impact, and significance. Congratulations to all who participated in this memorable evening.
All of the above reinforces what I have been preaching for a long time: There is a serious need in the concert hall for more newly composed music on the Holocaust, Israel, and Jewish history and traditions. Serious and meaningful music from today’s great creative minds. I will continue doing my part in London this coming October.
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Amos is conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) and has guest conducted symphonies around the world. Your comment may be sent to david.amos@sdjewishworld.com, or posted on this website provided that the rules below are observed.
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