B i o g r a p h y
B i o g r a p h y
B i o g r a p h y
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
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Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
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Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
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Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
JOSHUA JACOBSON
Reviews of compositions
“…a lovely transparent setting…sensitively crafted and meticulously edited, yielding a lovely singing experience…highly recommended.”
The Choral Journal, November, 1991.
“…worthy of particular notice…very tasteful and effective.”
The Journal of Synagogue Music, July, 1991.
“Shehecheyanu is a wonderful work…. This is a fine introduction to the great heritage of Hebrew music.”
The Choral Journal, September, 1994.
“Adijo Kerida … would be an excellent choice … a very fine edition.”
The Choral Journal, December, 1994.
“Joshua Jacobson’s edition is both significant and useful…. It is easy to recommend [Rossi’s] Elohim Hashivenu.”
The Choral Journal, March, 1995.
“… Joshua Jacobson, whose eleven-page arrangement [of Adijo Kerida]captures the sentiment and flavor of the poem via a very accessible and beautiful setting.”
The Choral Journal, February, 1996.
“Dremlen Feygel is a musically beautiful choral work … a lovely and meaningful addition to the multicultural repertoire.”
The Choral Journal, February, 1996.
“…this arrangement [Boruch Atoh] possesses a real sense of beauty….”
The Choral Journal, September, 1996.
“This bracing arrangement [Shemen Zach] has a sense of excitement…and is a welcome addition to the international folk-song repertoire.”
The Choral Journal, September, 1996.
“…beautifully wrought arrangements of popular and folk material, wrapping traditional and sometimes just “pop” melodies into fitting new garbs, at times suptuously elegant, at times soberly discreet and always in good taste. The fullness and fine craftsmanship of the arrangements…”
Simon Wainrib, The Berkshire Record, November 8-14, 1996.
“…[Ocho Kandelikas] would be a welcome treat at a holiday performance.”
The Choral Journal, September, 1998.
“…[Ale Brider] is a welcome addition to the repertoire… and would make a wonderful closing numer.”
The Choral Journal, October, 1998.
“Joshua Jacobson’s arrangement of ‘Hakotel’ (The Wall) is an elegant tribute… the vocal lines are beautifully wrought.”
The Choral Journal, October, 1998.
“This choral arrangement (L'Dor Vador) is filled with effective counterpoint and lyrical phrase shapes.”
The Choral Room, Fall, 2000 (Volume 10, No. 1).
“This score [Azamer Bishvohin] has been brilliantly prepared by…Joshua Jacobson.”
The Choral Room, Winter, 2002-03 (Volume 12, No. 2).
“Edited by Joshua Jacobson, this piece [Odekha by Salamone Rossi] has been carefully researched. … This powerful motet is a must for the accomplished ensemble and is truly a rare find. Hats off to the editor for bringing this piece to public notice.”
The Choral Room, Winter, 2002-03 (Volume 12, No. 2).
“Edited by Joshua Jacobson, this [Canticum Hebraicum, by Louis Saladin] is another wonderful edition of early Hebrew music. Excellent background information, pronunciation guide, and translation accompany the choral score.”
The Choral Room, Spring, 2003 (Volume 12, No. 3).
“Zol Shoyn Kumen di Ge'uleh (Let the Redemption Come), arr. Joshua
Jacobson … beautifully arranged.”
Spectrum Music’s Newsletter for the Choral Professional Volume 13, No. 2 (Winter 2003-04)
“L'chu N'ran'nah,” arr. Joshua Jacobson, Hebrew text, Transcontinental (Hal Leonard), 00191586, SATB and solo a cappella. This beautiful setting of a Shlomo Carlebach melody is beautifully done. It would be perfect as an opening concert piece, where Jacobson suggests that the singers surround the audience. …. The choir concludes the piece on powerful chords of great beauty with some divisi in the parts.
Spectrum Music’s Newsletter for the Choral Professional Summer 2008 Volume 17 No. 4.
“Chanukah in Santa Monica,” arr. Joshua Jacobson, English/Hebrew text, Transcontinental (Hal Leonard), 00191580, SATB, clarinet & keyboard. This … arrangement by Joshua Jacobson is both clever and tremendously humorous. Filled with wonderful text painting and descriptive music that attempt to call up the various cities visited by this Chanukah traveler, the rhythms and harmonies are quite accessible. This piece is perfect for the concert stage ….
Spectrum Music’s Newsletter for the Choral Professional Fall 2008 Volume 18 No. 1.
“Mizmor l'David,” by Shlomo Carlebach, arr. Joshua Jacobson, … This is a hypnotic setting of Psalm 29 using Carlebach's modal melody. The unison passages and imitation between the parts help in the learning of this dramatic piece. Jacobson uses harmonies skillfully to create a powerful arrangement of this beautiful melody.
The Choral Room: Spectrum Music’s Newsletter for the Choral Professional, Spring 2009 Volume 18 No. 3.
*Shalom Rav (Grant Abundant Peace), arr. Joshua Jacobson, Hebrew text, Transcontinental (Hal Leonard), 00191622, SATB (divisi), solo & keyboard. This is a fabulous arrangement of a well-known melody composed by Jeff Klepper and Danny Freelander. Jacobson arranged this piece for the Boston Zamir Chorale's 2007 concert that honored the two composers. Set in D Major, the harmonies and rhythms are reminiscent of spirituals. It is the perfect piece to choose for liturgical purposes or, with the optional drum set, for a concert setting. This is a great choice for high school choral directors. Again, Jacobson displays great scholarship and ingenuity. Performance information, biographies, and a pronunciation guide are included in the edition. Difficulty Rating 3. $2.75 (New releases that are especially recommended are marked with an asterisk)
The Choral Room: Spectrum Music’s Newsletter for the Choral Professional, Summer 2010 Volume 19 No. 4.
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*Azamer Bishvokhin (E.C.S. Publishing) "Jacobson works through the lengthy text with a consistent and concise bell-like piano and frequent choral divisi, creating a warm, ro- mantic texture. Through timely modulations, unaccompanied sec- tions, and tasteful chromaticism, Ja- cobson brings new devotional life to both this text and melody. "
The Choral Journal, February, 2017.