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Tsippi Fleischer - At the End of the Ways
A Computerized oratorio dance (Op. 50, 1998-9). Text: Uri Zvi Grinberg (in Hebrew); visualization:
Tsiyona Peled
Tsippi Fleischer’s composition At the End of the Ways is based on an extraordinary poem by Uri Zvi Grinberg.
The poet, despite being a religious believer, challenges the covenant between God and the Jewish people. On behalf of the 18th-century
Hassidic master, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev, the poet places an ultimatum to God: either you offer genuine protection to your
chosen people and ease their suffering, or else we will break the covenant and go our separate way.
Fleischer’s music is written for two parts only – voice and cello – but the vocal part is electronically manipulated,
bringing into dialogue with itself. Fleischer divides the text between several characters bearing names like “Narrator”,
“The People”, “A powerful member of the People”, and even “God in his ugliness”, who releases the Jewish people from their
covenant and calls upon them to act like other nations and do what best serves themselves.
Fleischer’s music is coupled here with a computerized dance created by the
multidisciplinary artist Tsioyna Peled. This audio-visual version was premiered at special
events at the Hebrew University Jerusalem (October 18, 1999) and the Levinsky College
of Education (November 8, 1999), in the presence of distinguished guests such as then-
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the poet Haim Guri and the music critic Hanoch Ron.
Text: Uri Zvi Grinberg (from his poem “At the end of the ways, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev stands and demands the Almighty’s answer”)
Music: Tsippi Fleischer
Visualization: Tsiyona Peled
Actor-Baritone: Doron Tavori
Cello: Orna Herzog
Sound Master: Yuval Karin (Pedro)
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