Nissim Khalifa - Composer

'עלילת דמשק' - לקריין ותזמורת, מגוללת את סיפורו של רבי יעקב ענתבי, אשר נאסר על לא עוול בכפו בגין רצח כומר איטלקי, בדמשק של שנת ה'ת"ר, 1840. היצירה שוזרת את עלילת דמשק באופן של קריינות על גבי נגינה תזמורתית, ומשלבת מוטיבים מוסיקליים רבים מתוך המסורת היהודית, הנוצרית והמוסלמית. ישנה הקבלה ביצירה בין רדיפת יהודי דמשק באירועים שהתרחשו אז בחודש אדר שנת ה'ת"ר, לרדיפת היהודים במגילת אסתר, הנקראת בחודש אדר, הקבלה הבאה לידי ביטוי בשימוש של קריאת טעמי המקרא בנוסח יוצאי דמשק והפיכתה למוטיבים רבים השזורים ביצירה. תמליל מאת ד"ר אליעוז ענתבי חפר הלחין: נסים חליפה קריינות: נסים חליפה ביצוע הפיוט "ישועות יעקב": יהונתן טולדנו 27:09 הפקה זו התאפשרה ע"י מענק מיוחד מטעם קרן יהושע רבינוביץ לאמנויות תל-אביב 'The Damascus Affair' - An audio drama for narrator and orchestra - Tells the story of Rabbi Yaakov Antebi, who was jailed over a blood libel against him, for murdering an Italian monk, in 1840's Damascus. The piece presents the affair with a narration over an orchestral performance, integrating many musical motifs from the Syrian Jewish heritage , the Christian and Muslim traditions. There is a parallel in the piece between the persecution of the Jews of damascus in these events which took place in 1840 and between the persecution of Jews in the book of Esther, which is read in the same month of events, this parallel is presented by the use of the Hebrew cantillation in the tradition of Damascus jewry, and by tranforming and becoming into many motifs entwined in the piece. Original text by Dr. Elioz Antebi Hefer Music by Nissim Khalifa Narrated by Nissim Khalifa Rabbi Antebi's Piyyut performed by Yehonatan Toledano 27:09 This production was made possible by a special grant from the Yehoshua Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts

Piano quartet in G minor Composed by: Nissim Khalifa Performed by: Meitar Ensemble Images courtesy of: Boris Dubrov sculptor and painter http://www.dubrov.net/​ Nissim Khalifa: "This Piano Quartet is a product of an intense will of combining modal folk ideas with a classical form, harmony orchestration and development, all of that comes from a great influence which classical and Israeli music has on me. Why G minor? When I with my piano I had to recreate what I heard in my mind. The 2nd movement's vigorous theme was the key to the entire piece, joined by the 1st movement's fugal theme which had written several years ago, also composed in G minor and became the opposite nature of the 1st therefore making the piece complete. The composition was made under the teaching of my professor while studying in the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD), and encouraged me to use musical ideas which I have neglected, revise and renew. This quartet is a circle complete from the very first days in the JAMD, music that came from my heart through a style development I have experienced to my last year, when I got my Bachelor of Music diploma. I must say that I have went through some terrible ordeals in the time I had to finish my work on the Piano Quartet, a grief time I mourned the death of my elder brother, Eliyahu Khalifa, therefore I dedicate this music to his memory."

The piece (composed by Israeli composer Nissim khalifa) is made out of three miniatures, each describes a different form of a prayer, from an audience in a synagogue answering a cantor (a prayer leader) to a solo prayer unto god. The piece, inspired by the a jewish folk melody to the poem "Take me under your wing" by Israeli hebrew poet Haim Nachman Bialik , was composed originally for the organ at the music composition seminar (ISAM) which took place in Michelstadt, Germany, august 2008, and was orchestrated for the fourth Jerusalem Academy of Music composition competition in june 2009. This performance is from the Annual "Tzlilim ba'Midbar" festival (Sounds in the Desert) which took place on december 17th, 2009 in Kibbutz Sde-Boker. The piece was performed by The Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, and conducted by maestro Doron Salomon. "Take me under your wing" by H. N. Bialik: Take me under your wing, be my mother, my sister. Take my head to your breast, my banished prayers to your nest. One merciful twilight hour, hear my pain, bend your head. They say there is youth in the world. Where has my youth fled? Listen! another secret: I have been seared by a flame. They say there is love in the world. How do we know loves name? I was deceived by the stars. There was a dream; it passed. I have nothing at all in the world, nothing but a vast waste. Take me under your wing, be my mother, my sister. Take my head to your breast, my banished prayers to your nest.

'A Prayer' - for organ Composed by: Nissim Khalifa Performed by: Sebastian Bothe The Piece, composed originally for the organ at the music composition seminar (ISAM) which took place in Michelstadt, Germany, august 2008, is made out of three miniatures, each describes a different form of a prayer, from an audience in a synagogue answering a cantor (a prayer leader) to a solo prayer unto god. Photo: Michelstadt, Germany: Organ of Stadtkirche Michelstadt © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

'Akdama uNirdefet' (Hebrew Prelude and Fugue) is a homage to two musical styles, which influenced me greatly. The first is baroque polyphonic music; the second is the Israeli "Mediterranean style" (music of composers such as Paul Ben-Haim, Mordechai Seter, etc.). Therefore, in "Akdama..." I tried to combine both styles. The idea behind its' composition is to create a piece with a classical-baroque form and combine it with the spirit and character of Israeli concert music tradition. In the piece, we hear a contrast between two parts. The first describes a Jew in the diaspora, using a somewhat Jewish theme, with a romantic harmonisation, which reminds the arrangments of traditional Jewish music made by composers of the new Jewish school (Joachim Stutschevsky, Joel Engel, etc.). The second is more lively and fast: it describes the free, romantic character of the Israeli native, leading a group of people. Each member of that group is independent, but together they perform a perfect social polyphony. The modality of the main theme, and the chromaticism of the counter-theme remind us of mediterranean soundscape of Israel. In the words of Hebrew poet Shaul Tchernichovsky: "A man is an image drawn by his homeland". Likewise is the music. Performers: Vladimir Chechelnitsky - clarinet / Nadia Raz Chacham - bassoon / Naama sachs - violin / Igor Tankevich - cello - Timor Shapira - piano. Special thanks to: Timor Shapira (Ensemble director), Dan Deutsch and Prof. Michael Wolpe (Production). Videofilmed: Oron Caspi.

Psalm 122 Composed by: Nissim Khalifa Performed by: The Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir Conducted by: Stanley Sperber Photos: Psalm 122, from the Aleppo Codex, provided by by http://SeforimOnline.org​ Second Temple Model, Israel Museum, Jerusalm - by James Emery, flickr.com/emeryjl

'Agadelcha' (I shall praise thee) is a poem written by the physician and poet Rabbi Abraham Iben Ezra in 12th century Spain. In this poem stands the poet with fear and awe in front of god and the eternal rift between man and his creator. Different emotions rising and floating here -- confession, fear, reverence, wonder and amazement -- from there comes and rises the paradox of the desire and aspiration to glorify god despite of man's futility. The origin to this poem's melody is Persian, and the relations between the poem and its melody are wonder in every word and word, therefore this match was taken in consideration when the process of composition began In addition, a motif was composed which draws his meaning from the poem's title, matches the Persian melody, and tries to express the greatness of god in front of man's insignificance. The motif relies on an harmonic progression from a diminished chord to an augmented chord, which returns throughout the piece, evolves and grows according to the poem's title. This piece, composed by Israeli composer NISSIM CALIFA, was specially comissioned for the 13th Israeli Music Celebration, by Renanot Institute & the Piyut Festival, for the 'Eternal theme' Concert which took place in 15.9.10, at the Henry Crown Hall, Jerusalem Theatre, part of the ISRAELI MUSIC CELEBRATION 2010. The piece was performed by Maureen Nehedar and the Jerusalem IBA Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Daniel Cohen, and directed by Dr. Michael Wolpe.

'Daniel - A Symphonic Poem' Composed by Nissim Khalifa Performed by Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra and conducted by Rafi Kadishzon at the Ra'anana Art & Music Center, 25.6.2008 היצירה 'דניאל - פואמה סימפונית' מבוססת על הספר המקראי 'דניאל' ומתארת ארבע תמונות מתוכו, ראשית את חורבן ירושלים וגלות יהודה, לאחר מכאן מגיע נושא של תקווה, הנושא של דניאל וחבריו המבוסס על הטקסט "ילדים אשר אין בהם כל מום וטובי מראה, ומשכילים בכל חכמה ויודעי דעת ומביני מדע" (דניאל א', ד') וניתן לשיר את הפסוק עם הלחן. התמונה השלישית מתארת את דניאל בגוב האריות והשרדותו בכוח האמונה באל, ולאחר מכן מגיע הנושא של דניאל במלוא תפארתו ולתאר את כוחה של אמונת דניאל והכבוד אשר ניתן לו על ידי דריוש מלך מדי. 'Daniel - A Symphonic Poem' is based on the biblical book of DANIEL. It describes four scences from the book, starting with the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people. Then comes a theme of hope, the theme of DANIEL and his friends, which based on the text (as a lyrics) from chapter 1,verse 4: 'Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science', a theme you can sing to it. The third part describes DANIEL in the den of lions, and his survival by the power of his belief in God, after which comes the theme of DANIEL in the fourth part, in all its splendor and greatness, to demonstrate the great power of DANIELs faith, and the honour given to his God by king DARIUS the Mede.

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