| "Nishmat Tzedek" (A Righteous Soul) is an orchestral and choral work loosely based on the traditional Jewish Yizkor (Memorial) Service. This inspiring composition, Which Cantor Chayim Frenkel commissioned from his dear friend, Cantor Meir Finkelstein, received its premiere in 1994 in Los Angeles, California. Chayim, devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of his older brother Tzvi, was searching for a fitting way to pay tribute to Tzvi's memory. A few weeks after Tzvi's death, Meir began to work on "Nishmat Tzedek."
As long-time friends and colleagues, Chayim and Meir have collaborated on many projects over the years.
More recently, in response to the devastating terrorist attacks that began in Israel in September 2000, Meir and Chayim felt the need to find a meaningful way to help alleviate the suffering of those who have lost loved ones in the on-going terrorism that plagues our world. They felt that a moving musical work might help their Jewish brothers and sisters everywhere to find a measure of solaceand perhaps ease their loss and grief. Meir composed three new movements, edited some of the original orchestrations and a new and more dramatic version of "Nishmat Tzedek" was born.
As production of this recording got under way, it was decided that the listeners' experience of the music should be enhanced with inspirational words and images. Meir and Chayim wanted Jewish communities all over the world to be able to perform "Nishmat Tzedek." The decided to expand the project to include a piano reductionof the score and a 40 page companion book, which features breathtaking images of Israel along with traditional prayers and psalms on which the music is based. The CD is housed in the back of the book. |
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