Poge Six
JEWISHi 'WESTERN BULLETIN:
Fairyiew Legion Piresepits Mfh^elchair
At
Foinriew Legion - BB Shquflhnessy Pqfi
AniOhg the liieinbehi. of fk0:M who conducted the Xma» party at Shoughniessy in behalf of Foirview
Brdifch Canadian LlBgidh oiid B'noi B'rith were, sfohding left to right: Ralph Greenberg, Wolf Cub Ion Lif* chus; Jock Sportbn, Chuck Kemp, Maurice Lifchus, and Horry Appleton. Seated, Chorles GorVich and Gordon Collins, Recreation Supervisor,f Shoughnessy Hospital.
ies Concert Stirs
By DAVID STOCKHAMMER
Xmos party run by Foirview veterans at Shoughnessy.
Branch and B'noi B'rith
'Biggest Party Ever' iFor SKaugKn^li^
The biggest party ever held at Shaughnessy Hospital, is what the recent Christmas party, sponsored by Fairview Branch Canadian Legion f78, and the B'nai B'rith family was called by Hospital Administration.
Features of the party were, "The
Crookedest Bingo in the World", where everyone got a prize, and The ^en Yost Royal Guards^ tea-'
Last week a concert of music by Jewish composers was pre-sehted in the Beth Israel Audi^ torium. The event, sponsored by the Wingate Zionist Club, afforded the Jewish community of Vancouver a rare opportunity to hear a number of modem compositions by 20th century Jewish composers.
The audience was small. Why? have yet to hear an adequate for hospitalized I excuse. This is not aimed at the sponsoring group but rather at the consciousness and response— or lack of it, from the Jewish comniunity.
The visiting artists were Mar-
turing Eddie Hoffman and Vancouver's own Sl^ldon Allman. I guerite Kozenn sopriano and> Jul-This group of singers, which w^rie ius Chajes, proniinent Israeli appearing at. the Cave Cabaret,- composer and pianist! Both are made a terrific hit with all the European born and trained. Miss patients. Their complete act was Kozenn (Mrs. Chajes) an oper-sent by Ra&io and Television, to atic and concert singer received all the patients in the hospital. J her training in Vienna and Milan
•Bingo prizes were also given these patients; 250 prizes were purchased, and an > equal number were donated by local merchants
All local daily papers had photographers, and published pictures. Station CKNW recorded two programs, which were presented, one on Christmas day and one on New Years day. These programs featured members of both Fair-view Branch Legion, and B'nai B'rith, as well as patients in the hospital.
Brownies and Cubs were also present to help the patients, un^ able to play Bingo.
Co-Chairman of this event were Charles Gorvich, and Ralph Greenberg, assisted by many members of B'nai B'rith and Fairview Legion.
ENDORSATIONS GRANTED
VANCOUVER PERETZ SCHOOL—Membership Drive—Dec. 20 to
Jon. 14
COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, Bus. & Prof. Girls Group-^
Theotre Night-r-Jon. 10 CANADIAN FRIENDS HEBREW UNIVERSITY—Open Mfg. Jan. 11 B'NAI B'RITH No. 668 — Installation Dinner — January 12 PIONEER WOMEN'S COUNCIL — Homisho Oser B'shvot—Jon. 17 OPEN FORUM — Jewish Community Council — Jonuory 18 PACIFIC CHAPTER BB WOMEN No. 763 Raffle Jon. 15 to Feb. 13 VAN. HADASSAH COUNCIL — Annual Youth Aliyoh Drive —
Jan. 15 to Feb. 15
HABONIM PARENTS' TEA — Tea — January 17 DEBORAH CHAPTER HADASSAH—Music of the Notions—Jon. 24 PACIFIC CHAPTER—Cabaret. Night ond Popularity Contest—
Feb. 13, 1954
HENRIETTA SZOLD HADASSAH — Tea — Februory 17 LILLIAN FREIMAN CHAPTER HADASSAH—Raffle—Mth. of Feb. HISTADRUTH — February 14-March 14
BETH ISRAEL MEN'S CLUB — Purim Dance — March 20 VANCOUVER PERETZ SCHOOL—Annuel Bazaar, Dinner, Raffle-March 24.
AMERICAN FUND FOR ISRAEL INSTITUTIONS DRIVE
Spring, 1954
Italy. Julius Chajes, born in Poland, received his training in Vienna under many teachers including the celebrated Moriz Rosenthal. He won the Honor Prize in 1933 at the first International Competition for Pianists in Vienna. His most recent triumph occurred several weeks ago when he appeared as solois; with the "Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Paul Paray in the premiere performance of his new piano concerto. Before coming to the USA he was head of the piano department of the Music College in Tel Aviv. Since 1946 both hie and his wife have made annual tours to Europe with occasional .visits to Israel.
The program opened With group of songs by Chajes, Castel-nuova-Tedesco and Binder. Immediately apparant was a fine sense of the dramatic on the part of Miss Kozenn as well as the ability to establish with the listener a bond not merely of sympathy, but of empathy. I use the word "listener" instead of '*audi-ence" because I am not at all sure that everyone was "reached."
It was a different story when he folk songs came. Everyone can understand a folk song-simple, uncomplicated and often catchy. A folk sorxg—a peculiar, characteristic and realistic re-lection of a folk, a people; not adorned, false or sophisticated, but rather with their hair let
Home for the Aged A Vifol Institution is worthy of Community Wide Support
down, busy at their work, and unashamed to express their thoughts and feelings.
"Mayim, Mayim" describes the joy and happiness when a new well is found in the Negev. In this song I would have though that Miss Kozenn was but 18 years old, from her exuberance Encores included two operatic arias by Puccini and Leoncavallo, Chajes' Palestinian'Nights as wel as the beloved Chassidic Nigun. Several high notes in the arias were strained but there was artistry throughout.
Julius Chajes began his group with his Sonata movement in © minor, his Israeli Dance and an arrangement of six Israeli melodies. Three Preludes by George Gershwin added to the variety of the program. These Preludes are saturated with Negro blues. Some in the audience foimd this to be the most accessible part ^ of the program. After all, in* essence are the Negro blues so mUch different from our ghetto blues? For encores Mr. Chajes played the Revolutionary Etude.and a hackneyed Polonaise by Chopin, The Nocturne for the left hand by Scriabin and the Dance Hebraique by Jacob Weinberg. The Nocturne was poetic and romantic. In it the pianist revealed great sensitivity—that is also true for his accompaniment in the songs. Conspicuous in the Weinberg piece was the familiar theme of Oy Chanuka, Oy Chanuka."
As a composer Mr. Chajes does not identify himself with any of the "modern" schools, such as the atonalist disciples of Arnold Shoenberg, the followers of Paul Hindemith, or individuals like Igor ,Stravinsky, skilled craftsmen' who apparently are unable to find content material in this
revert to the past He Is an individualist, but in a non-aloof sense. This approach towards composition reminds one of the attitude of contemporary composers like Khatchaturian, Shos-takovitch, Kabalevsky, etc. He shows a desire to continue on in the tradition of the 18th century classicists and 19th century romanticists (mentioned specifically by Mr. Chajes were the romanticists Groldmark and Rubinstein). However his technical equipment and his content is 20th qfentury, and every note counts.
The most serious item was a sonata movement by * Julius Chajes, a most beautiful work worthy of a little discussion as it is quite representative of modern Israeli music—^full of rhythmic vitality, fresh optimism, con^ scious of itself. Happily absent is that ^static, wailing, tormentive introspective" and mystic ghetlto spirit, though some of the tone color of the ghetto lingers on.
This is only another example of .art showing us that we cannot erase the past, nor should we try. However equally wrong is the tendency on the part of some artists today to bury themselves in the past. A nation's art reflects its material and social self. And Israel finds itself now in an era of great expansion and develop-inent. Is it then surprising that its £irt is so alive and dynamic? How else can it be? Also present in the same sonata movement was an ever present tension. Even when the right hand tv/ice sang out a broad melody, there was still an excitement, perhaps not confusion, but nevertheless a constant tension in the left hand. Looking at Israel again—energetic and vital—^yes, but tension all over; fear of a "Second round," Dlaying with fire between East and West and internal headaches.
STUDENT EXCHANGE — Among the 3,783 exchange students the world over there are 96 Israelis who study.in 12 dif-
ferent countries. The niunber of present hanging .world and. who foreign students in Israel is 39.
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