Biblical music with lyrics drawn from the
Aramaic and Greek texts

Biblical music
Exhibit, concert to feature Frumin's art

SAVAE — the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble — will perform its program "Ancient Echoes" at 8 p.m. Saturday using instruments created by sculptor Moshe Frumin. Frumin's work, such as this harp, will be on display for the first time in the United States, beginning Thursday at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. Courtesy photos

By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer

October 11/2009

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art on Thursday will open an exhibit of work never before seen in the United States by sculptor Moshe Frumin.

Frumin, a native of Poland who immigrated with his family to Israel when he was 8 years old, creates musical instruments that are based on archaeological finds and biblical accounts of music in the Hebrew Bible.

"Every piece is based on a physical depiction, since as an image on an ancient coin or a wall painting," said Arthur Feldman, executive director of the Sherwin Miller museum. "And while these objects are quite beautiful, they are also completely practical — they are meant to be played."

"Moshe Frumin: Ancient Instruments" will include 19 instruments — harps similar to those that King David would have played, shofar horns, drums and other percussion pieces.

Frumin will be in Tulsa for the opening reception, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, to give a gallery talk about his work at the museum, 2021 E. 71st St. The exhibit will remain on display through Jan. 25, 2010.
In concert

In addition, some of the instruments in the exhibit will be used by SAVAE — the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble — when it presents its concert "Ancient Echoes" at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Howard Auditorium on the Oral Roberts University campus, 7777 E. 81st St.

SAVAE is a seven-member group specializing in early and ancient music — from hymns and spirituals from the American South to music that combines colonial Spanish melodies with Aztec instruments (which the ensemble also plays).

The "Ancient Echoes" concert will feature songs and chants that were collected by musicologist Abraham Idelsohn in his authoritative "Thesaurus of Hebrew Oriental Melodies," with lyrics drawn from the Aramaic Greek texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

"Aramaic was the language that Jesus spoke," Feldman said. "So this is a concert that should resonate with people of both the Jewish and Christian faiths, through the common ground of music."

Tickets for the SAVAE performance are $20 adults and $10 students, and can be purchased by calling the Sherwin Miller museum at 492-1818.