Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
Scored for: baritone and piano Text: Ellen Frankel Language: English Duration: 4 min. Premiere: 3/18/11 Church of Saint Matthew and Saint Timothy, 26 West 84th Street, New York City
The Phoenix Concerts: Daniel Neer, baritone, Robert Frankenberry, piano Commissioned by: The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, Artistic Director Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
“Amok” is an aria from Andrea Clearfield’s The Golem Psalms, a cantata originally for baritone, chorus and orchestra based on the 16th Century legend of the Golem of Prague. The work was commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, artistic director, with a new libretto by Ellen Frankel. The Golem Psalms premiered in Philadelphia in 2006 with Sanford Sylvan, baritone soloist, The Mendelssohn Club and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
A golem is a creature from Jewish folklore, built from the mud of the Moldau River and brought to life through a mystical ritualistic process. Created by the famous Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague to protect the Jews during a time of duress, the Golem is said to have served well as a guardian, but occasionally ran “amok”. Not unlike the Sorcerer’s Apprentice or Frankenstein (with a nod to technology surpassing or endangering its creator) this part of the story offers some comic relief, where the enthusiastic Golem, ordered by the Rabbi’s wife to bring fish for the Sabbath dinner, is unable to stop, filling the house with fish.
LISTEN
RECORDING
Upcoming recording on Innova Label, Fall, 2011
TEXT
How was I to know,
when Mrs. Judah Loew
sent me after fish,
that she didn’t know
how to make me stop or go
when it was her wish
to stop the flow
of scales and roe
for her Sabbath dish?
And so
her house began to overflow
with endless fish
in bowls and pots and hallah dough,
until she sent for Rabbi Loew
to finish
what she’d set in motion.
The moral of this tale is: Know
that when intent to best your foe
or see your fortunes grow,
be careful what you wish,
for we don’t always know
that what we mean to sow
may be our finish and our woe.
Amok
Scored for: baritone and piano
Text: Ellen Frankel
Language: English
Duration: 4 min.
Premiere: 3/18/11 Church of Saint Matthew and Saint Timothy, 26 West 84th Street, New York City
The Phoenix Concerts: Daniel Neer, baritone, Robert Frankenberry, piano
Commissioned by: The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, Artistic Director
Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
See preview score pages: AMOK excerpt (PDF)
PROGRAM NOTE
“Amok” is an aria from Andrea Clearfield’s The Golem Psalms, a cantata originally for baritone, chorus and orchestra based on the 16th Century legend of the Golem of Prague. The work was commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, artistic director, with a new libretto by Ellen Frankel. The Golem Psalms premiered in Philadelphia in 2006 with Sanford Sylvan, baritone soloist, The Mendelssohn Club and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
A golem is a creature from Jewish folklore, built from the mud of the Moldau River and brought to life through a mystical ritualistic process. Created by the famous Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague to protect the Jews during a time of duress, the Golem is said to have served well as a guardian, but occasionally ran “amok”. Not unlike the Sorcerer’s Apprentice or Frankenstein (with a nod to technology surpassing or endangering its creator) this part of the story offers some comic relief, where the enthusiastic Golem, ordered by the Rabbi’s wife to bring fish for the Sabbath dinner, is unable to stop, filling the house with fish.
LISTEN
RECORDING
Upcoming recording on Innova Label, Fall, 2011
TEXT
How was I to know,
when Mrs. Judah Loew
sent me after fish,
that she didn’t know
how to make me stop or go
when it was her wish
to stop the flow
of scales and roe
for her Sabbath dish?
And so
her house began to overflow
with endless fish
in bowls and pots and hallah dough,
until she sent for Rabbi Loew
to finish
what she’d set in motion.
The moral of this tale is: Know
that when intent to best your foe
or see your fortunes grow,
be careful what you wish,
for we don’t always know
that what we mean to sow
may be our finish and our woe.