About the creation

Shir Hag was written in 1984 following a commission by the Tel-Aviv Foundation for Literature and Art for a work for choir and a cappella to be performed by the Philharmonic Choir, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Tel-Aviv.

"When I was approached to compose the work" – says the composer – "my immediate idea

was to do so on a text from the Bible and taking into account that the work was commissioned

for the anniversary of Tel-Aviv, I thought of the verse from the Book of Ezechiel in which Tel-Aviv

is actually mentioned".

The work is in rondo form with a very lively and rhythmical theme written heterophonically

and with changing meters. The wors in the first part are based on verses from the book of Ezechiel; then follows a section in a pastoral mood with contrapunctal limitations based on six verses from the Song of Songs in which the name Tel-Aviv appears in the form of an acrostic (in Hebrew, of course). This is followed by a section from the Book of Ezechiel after which another section based on six verses from the Book of proverbs follows (in which once more the name Tel-Aviv is formed by an acrostic). The opening section is repeated again and concludes the work.