Music, Belief and the Soul: A Discussion With CMF Director Michael Christie and Rabbi Rose

Michael Christie, Director of the Colorado Music Festival, will join Rabbi Josh Rose in a discussion on Thursday, June 27th, 7 pm, at Congregation Har HaShem about the relationship between the musical and religious themes in Ernst Bloch’s Sacred Service.

The two will discuss Bloch’s personal journey and reconnection with his Jewish roots through the composition of the piece. Rabbi Rose will reflect on the religious structure of the service and Michael Christie will talk about the piece from a musical perspective.

We’ll take your questions. Please join us – this will be a great way to get more out of the CMF’s presentation of the Sacred Service, which Congregation Har HaShem is co-sponsoring on July 25th at Chautauqua.

Ernst Bloch was a 20th century composer. While he was Jewish, he did not compose “Jewish music” until his beautiful Sacred Service (Avodat Ha-Kodesh) in 1933. Inspired by his relationship with Zionist poet Edmond Fleg, Bloch composed this modern masterpiece on the Shabbat morning liturgy. Bloch based the work on the Reform Movement’s Union Prayer Book because of his relationship with the cantor at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco.

The June 27th discussion is free and open to the community. RSVP online HERE.

For tickets to the July 25th performance, visit the Colorado Music Festival webpage.