Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
“A major work”, “remarkable scoring”, “highly atmospheric”
Issue 41:1 (Sept/Oct 2017) Fanfare Magazine, review by Colin Clarke.
Women of Valor logo by Louise Clearfield
Hannah’s Prayer (Movement II from Women of Valor) is scored for: violin solo, harp, strings (with narration and soprano vocalise – optional). Also arranged for small chamber ensemble (vln, perc. pno), or soprano, narrator and piano The oratorio Women of Valor (entire work) is scored for: soprano and 1 or 2 mezzo-soprano solos, narrator, symphony orchestra. Commissioned by:The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Noreen Green, artistic director Duration: “Hannah’s Prayer” – 8 minutes (entire work, 1 hour) Premiere: April 16, 2000, Royce Hall, Los Angeles; Hila Plitmann, soprano; Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano; Valerie Harper, narrator and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony under the direction of Noreen Green
Recordings: Albany Label. Featuring award winning soloists Hila Plitmann and Rinat Shaham and celebrity narrator, Tova Feldshuh with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, produced by Fred Vogler. Order here.
“Celebration: Miriam at the Red Sea” – painting by Louise Clearfield
Publisher:Women of Valor is published Angelfire Press and distributed by Black Tea Music. Contact Black Tea Music for scores.
Scholarly Texts: inclusion in the Encyclopedia of Biblical Reception, article by Helen Leneman, published by deGruyter and The Bible and Music by James F. McGrath Contact Andrea Clearfield:
LISTEN
NOTES
Women of Valor is a celebration of women from the Old Testament. The cantata was inspired by a midrash (biblical commentary) on Proverbs where each line of the biblical text from Proverbs 31 represents a biblical woman. Women of Valor highlights the stories of Sarah, Leah, Rachel, Jocheved, Miriam, Hannah, Jael, Michal, Ruth and Esther. The hour-long work is scored for soprano and 1 or 2 mezzo-soprano soloists, narrator and symphony orchestra. It was given its world premiere in Los Angeles on April 16th, 2000 by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony under the direction of Dr. Noreen Green and was favorably reviewed in the Los Angeles Times. Soloists were Hila Plittman, soprano and Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano, and the narrator was noted television actress Valerie Harper. The performance was sponsored by Hadassah Southern California, who created educational programs around the work. A story on Women of Valor was broadcast nationally on NPR’s All Things Considered in April, 2000. The work was recorded on Albany Label who praised the work as a “STUNNING NEW ORATORIO BY ANDREA CLEARFIELD GIVEN A MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE BY THE LOS ANGELES JEWISH SYMPHONY” – Albany Records.
Movement II, “Hannah’s Prayer” (Prayer), for soprano, harp and string orchestra has been performed at the Liacoras Center in Philadelphia at the Opening Ceremonies for the National Maccabi Games in honor of the Munich 11 athletes, in 2001 in Beverly Hills as a memoriam to those who died on September 11, 2001 and at other memorial events.
REVIEWS
“Prayer” (from Women of Valor) is both authentic and effective. Built on the cantillation of the biblical Hannah’s prayer, it was premiered at the 2001 opening ceremonies of the JCC Maccabi games in Philadelphia to commemorate the eleven Israeli athletes murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics.”
Rabbi Baruch Cohon, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
…ingenious and invigorating composition…inspiring and radiant creativity…a maturing masterpiece performed by a groundbreaking orchestra, two world class soloists and an acclaimed American actress and playwright. Ms. Clearfield has presented powerful and modern insights into the Women of the Old Testament, that at times gives your heart a tug and offers an intense musical and emotional reaction giving credence to one’s spirituality and religious journey. This CD “Women of Valor”, on the Albany Label should be required listening for those who wish to broaden their artistic perceptions of Life.
– Stan Schmidt, Producer/Host, Going Beyond Words, October 8, 2017
“Taking biblical text as narrative for recitatives and poetry by contemporary Jewish women for the arias, the hole presenting an interpretation of Proverbs 31 in terms of a biblical woman’s story, Andrea Clearfield has constructed a major work, an oratorio for soprano, mezzo, narrator, and orchestra that celebrates “women of valor.”…The soloists are excellent. Soprano Hila Plitmann and mezzo Rinat Shaham have voices that ideally complement each other…Clearfield’s scoring is remarkable at times; try the highly atmospheric recitative “She rises while it is still night” or the incredibly skillful contrapuntal brass writing …Yet she can write with an almost Mahlerian weight for strings, too…Green’s direction is faultless, in both accompanyng her singers and in having a clear long-range vision of the work. The recording is of the very highest standard.…” (Fanfare)
-Colin Clark, Fanfare Magazine, 41:1 (Sept/Oct 2017)
A Beautiful and Memorable Modern Oratorio About Select Biblical Women
“It is indeed a rare treat to hear a haunting and beautiful oratorio based on 10 biblical women written in very recent times by a woman, conduced by a woman, with women soloists, and it features a woman narrator. It is interesting to note here that this oratorio features some of the most poignant stories of the Bible. The music found here is based on biblical cantiltation, ancient Jewish liturgical scalar patterns, Middle Eastern rhythms as well as Jewish folk and sacred music. As the composer explains that the framework for a substantial piece wherein the biblical narrative would serve as text for the recitatives and uses poetry by contemporary Jewish women supplies the text for the various arias found here. The Program – Women of Valor – Andrea Clearfield – Composer – An Oratorio for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Narrator and Orchestra – ALBANY – TT: 62:54 – (2017) – Tovah Feldshuh – (TF) – Narrator; Hila Plitmann – (HP), Soprano; Rinat Shaham – (RS), Mezzo-Soprano; Los Angeles Jewish Symphony Orchestra, Noreen Green, Artistic Director – MOVEMENT I – i. Prelude and Recitative – (RS, TF); ii. Sarah – (HP, RS, TF); iii. Recitative – (RS); iv. Leah – (RS, TF); v. Recitative and Rachel – (HP); vi. Recitative – (RS); vii. Jocheved – (RS, TF); MOVEMENT II – viii. Recitative – (HP); ix. Miriam – (HP, RS, TF); x. Hannah – (HP, TF); xi. Jael – (RS, TF); MOVEMENT III – xii. Recitative – (HP< RS); xiii. Michal - (RS, TF); xiv. Recitative - (HP, TF); xv. Ruth - (HP, TF); xvi. Recitative - (RS); xvii. Esther - (HP, RS); xviii. Eishes Chayel - (RS, HP).
The soloists are very stylish, diction is excellent, the narrator is clear and concise. The musical accompaniments by the symphony orchestra are empathic and reflect a very sympatric approach to the music itself. Excellent program notes feature the complete texts utilized in this superb performance.
- Dennis E. Ferrera, Amazon Review, June 26, 2017
Hannah’s Prayer/or “Prayer” (from Women of Valor)
“A major work”, “remarkable scoring”, “highly atmospheric”
Issue 41:1 (Sept/Oct 2017) Fanfare Magazine, review by Colin Clarke.
Women of Valor logo by Louise Clearfield
Hannah’s Prayer (Movement II from Women of Valor) is scored for: violin solo, harp, strings (with narration and soprano vocalise – optional). Also arranged for small chamber ensemble (vln, perc. pno), or soprano, narrator and piano
The oratorio Women of Valor (entire work) is scored for: soprano and 1 or 2 mezzo-soprano solos, narrator, symphony orchestra.
Commissioned by: The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Noreen Green, artistic director
Duration: “Hannah’s Prayer” – 8 minutes (entire work, 1 hour)
Premiere: April 16, 2000, Royce Hall, Los Angeles; Hila Plitmann, soprano; Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano; Valerie Harper, narrator and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony under the direction of Noreen Green
Recordings: Albany Label. Featuring award winning soloists Hila Plitmann and Rinat Shaham and celebrity narrator, Tova Feldshuh with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, produced by Fred Vogler. Order here.
“Celebration: Miriam at the Red Sea” – painting by Louise Clearfield
Publisher: Women of Valor is published Angelfire Press and distributed by Black Tea Music. Contact Black Tea Music for scores.
Contact Andrea Clearfield:
LISTEN
NOTES
Women of Valor is a celebration of women from the Old Testament. The cantata was inspired by a midrash (biblical commentary) on Proverbs where each line of the biblical text from Proverbs 31 represents a biblical woman. Women of Valor highlights the stories of Sarah, Leah, Rachel, Jocheved, Miriam, Hannah, Jael, Michal, Ruth and Esther. The hour-long work is scored for soprano and 1 or 2 mezzo-soprano soloists, narrator and symphony orchestra. It was given its world premiere in Los Angeles on April 16th, 2000 by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony under the direction of Dr. Noreen Green and was favorably reviewed in the Los Angeles Times. Soloists were Hila Plittman, soprano and Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano, and the narrator was noted television actress Valerie Harper. The performance was sponsored by Hadassah Southern California, who created educational programs around the work. A story on Women of Valor was broadcast nationally on NPR’s All Things Considered in April, 2000. The work was recorded on Albany Label who praised the work as a “STUNNING NEW ORATORIO BY ANDREA CLEARFIELD GIVEN A MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE BY THE LOS ANGELES JEWISH SYMPHONY” – Albany Records.
Movement II, “Hannah’s Prayer” (Prayer), for soprano, harp and string orchestra has been performed at the Liacoras Center in Philadelphia at the Opening Ceremonies for the National Maccabi Games in honor of the Munich 11 athletes, in 2001 in Beverly Hills as a memoriam to those who died on September 11, 2001 and at other memorial events.
REVIEWS
“Prayer” (from Women of Valor) is both authentic and effective. Built on the cantillation of the biblical Hannah’s prayer, it was premiered at the 2001 opening ceremonies of the JCC Maccabi games in Philadelphia to commemorate the eleven Israeli athletes murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics.”
Rabbi Baruch Cohon, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
…ingenious and invigorating composition…inspiring and radiant creativity…a maturing masterpiece performed by a groundbreaking orchestra, two world class soloists and an acclaimed American actress and playwright. Ms. Clearfield has presented powerful and modern insights into the Women of the Old Testament, that at times gives your heart a tug and offers an intense musical and emotional reaction giving credence to one’s spirituality and religious journey. This CD “Women of Valor”, on the Albany Label should be required listening for those who wish to broaden their artistic perceptions of Life.
– Stan Schmidt, Producer/Host, Going Beyond Words, October 8, 2017
“Taking biblical text as narrative for recitatives and poetry by contemporary Jewish women for the arias, the hole presenting an interpretation of Proverbs 31 in terms of a biblical woman’s story, Andrea Clearfield has constructed a major work, an oratorio for soprano, mezzo, narrator, and orchestra that celebrates “women of valor.”…The soloists are excellent. Soprano Hila Plitmann and mezzo Rinat Shaham have voices that ideally complement each other…Clearfield’s scoring is remarkable at times; try the highly atmospheric recitative “She rises while it is still night” or the incredibly skillful contrapuntal brass writing …Yet she can write with an almost Mahlerian weight for strings, too…Green’s direction is faultless, in both accompanyng her singers and in having a clear long-range vision of the work. The recording is of the very highest standard.…” (Fanfare)
-Colin Clark, Fanfare Magazine, 41:1 (Sept/Oct 2017)
A Beautiful and Memorable Modern Oratorio About Select Biblical Women
“It is indeed a rare treat to hear a haunting and beautiful oratorio based on 10 biblical women written in very recent times by a woman, conduced by a woman, with women soloists, and it features a woman narrator. It is interesting to note here that this oratorio features some of the most poignant stories of the Bible. The music found here is based on biblical cantiltation, ancient Jewish liturgical scalar patterns, Middle Eastern rhythms as well as Jewish folk and sacred music. As the composer explains that the framework for a substantial piece wherein the biblical narrative would serve as text for the recitatives and uses poetry by contemporary Jewish women supplies the text for the various arias found here. The Program – Women of Valor – Andrea Clearfield – Composer – An Oratorio for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Narrator and Orchestra – ALBANY – TT: 62:54 – (2017) – Tovah Feldshuh – (TF) – Narrator; Hila Plitmann – (HP), Soprano; Rinat Shaham – (RS), Mezzo-Soprano; Los Angeles Jewish Symphony Orchestra, Noreen Green, Artistic Director – MOVEMENT I – i. Prelude and Recitative – (RS, TF); ii. Sarah – (HP, RS, TF); iii. Recitative – (RS); iv. Leah – (RS, TF); v. Recitative and Rachel – (HP); vi. Recitative – (RS); vii. Jocheved – (RS, TF); MOVEMENT II – viii. Recitative – (HP); ix. Miriam – (HP, RS, TF); x. Hannah – (HP, TF); xi. Jael – (RS, TF); MOVEMENT III – xii. Recitative – (HP< RS); xiii. Michal - (RS, TF); xiv. Recitative - (HP, TF); xv. Ruth - (HP, TF); xvi. Recitative - (RS); xvii. Esther - (HP, RS); xviii. Eishes Chayel - (RS, HP).
The soloists are very stylish, diction is excellent, the narrator is clear and concise. The musical accompaniments by the symphony orchestra are empathic and reflect a very sympatric approach to the music itself. Excellent program notes feature the complete texts utilized in this superb performance.
- Dennis E. Ferrera, Amazon Review, June 26, 2017
Albany Label, “a haunting and beautiful modern oratorio“