Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s "Jewish cantata," tentatively entitled "Gates of Justice," will make its premier at the Academy of Music next spring, the Jewish Exponent reported. The cantata was commissioned in 1968 by Rabbi Charles D. Mintz, director of the Pennsylvania Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
The teachings of the Prophets are applied by Mr. Brubeck to the contemporary scene, the exponent reported. The cantata is scored for brass, organ, piano, timpani, two soloists and a chorus. Tenor soloist will be a cantor who will sing the teachings of Judaism while a Negro baritone will question their relevance to his life. The chorus will be the Philadelphia Singing City Choir, Rabbi Mintz said he hoped the cantata will be used in the synagogues as a sermon to bring "home the message of Judaism as an exciting dramatic mode."
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.