NEWS IN BRIEF:
What Would Love Do Now?
Judith has created these events around her song cycle of the same name, which is based on the poem
by Julie Barnes. Three dates and locations so far – Warwick 2nd April, Brighton/Hove 25th June and Nottingham 16th July – and there may be more on their way. You can find information about all of them here.
Mum Thumb
Since her mother’s death in December 2017, Judith has written this play with music, the story of a mother and daughter navigating their relationship through the mother’s later life and death, flashing back to earlier stories and experiences. On 28th February, 20th March and 2nd May 2021 there were rehearsed readings of the play on Zoom. Live performances are now being planned as part of the Watford Fringe Festival (5pm on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October at the Watford Pump House) and the Tsitsit Jewish Fringe Festival (7.30pm on Sunday 20th November at Finchley Reform Synagogue). Tickets will be on sale soon and there’s more about the play here. We also have an online sharing of our Zoom recording happening on 11th July, with tickets here.
Front Room Concerts
On Thursday 24th September 2020, Judith performed her first ever solo live-streamed intimate concert with an eclectic range of songs hosted by this lovely group on Facebook. You’re warmly invited to enjoy the recording on Judith’s YouTube channel.
The Keep Connected Choir
With the unwelcome outbreak of Covid-19 came the very welcome and heartening outbreak of online singing. Set up in March 2020, to help us stay connected during the time when we couldn’t meet and sing together in person, this group ran regularly until March 2022 and will probably re-emerge, Brigadoon-like from time to time. There’s an in-person singing day planned for Sunday 31st July, to which all are invited. Details will be shared once confirmed and meanwhile please feel free to visit our Facebook Page or drop a message to the contact page to find out more.
Singing for the Mind
These supportive sessions for people with dementia and their carers have also now moved online and information about them can be found here. To gain more of an understanding of the group, you’re welcome to view this powerful and moving film of the group, which Judith was the original singing leader for and now co-leads. This film, called Memory Songs, was made by film director Lucy Kaye – a winner of a Pears Short Film Fund Award – and premiered in November 2016. It has been shown and received awards at a number of festivals. Lucy also very generously also made a promotional film, to give more information about the group and what we do.
SongLine Quarantine Choir/Singing Mamas
On Monday 15th June 2020, Judith shared a song with this wonderful group, and the session is available on their Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, as well as an interview about her composing.
Companion Voices Fundraising Evening
On Thursday 18th June, Judith, Cantor Zöe Jacobs and Mich Sampson, with some Companions from various groups, shared songs and reflections to raise awareness of CV and the work we do. The funds raised went towards creating some recordings for our website, http://www.companionvoices.com, so that despite not being able to visit people in person at this time, we can still bring some comfort through our singing and Companionship. The concert is still available to view from the link above (and donations are always very welcome!).
Song Recommendations
If you’re looking for lovely songs to learn or teach, have a look at this – a collection of songs taught over the last few years at Unicorn Voice Camp…
SONGLEADING AND PERFORMING
August 2019: Leading singing at the 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace. An interfaith gathering of 1000 faith leaders. The singing is near the session starts – and please watch on to some of the amazing work done at the conference!
Plenary 1: Peace Be With You, J. Silver
Plenary 2: Live in Peace, H. Yeomans
Plenary 3: Walking on Sacred Ground, Nickomo
September 2019: Singing with Tom Morley, Joanna Foster, Ali Orbaum and Barbara Gelhorn at Sing for Water at The Scoop, London
Gaia: J. Foster
Price Tag: Jessie J, Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly and B.o.B
Imela: Fabulous African song, getting the audience to sing…
COMPOSING NEWS
Gesher was selected for inclusion in a concert by the Zamir Chorale on 22nd March 2020 at the Lincoln Centre in New York. Though this was cancelled, the Choir did learn it and it’s only a matter of time til it gets shared in person. Meanwhile, a there’s a lovely version here sung by choirs in Ashkelon and Baltimore!
Judith was commissioned by Kolot HaLev Jewish Choir in Maryland to compose a setting of ‘Eshet Chayil’ for a concert due to happen in May 2020. Though this was cancelled, Judith worked remotely with the choir and their conductor, Cantor Ramòn Tasat, and this virtual recording of the second half of the piece was created by Cliff Braverman and was premiered on 23rd May 2021.
During 2020-21, like many of my dear friends and colleagues, I’ve been learning about some of the options for recording songs, and made this version of my new setting of the words from the end of Adon Olam: B’Yado/Into Your Hand.
Judith Silver 