Tur Malka

New album - Feb, 2016

Conceived in 2011, "Tur Malka" (New songs of Yiddish Montreal) consists of 15 original melodies based on Yiddish poems that were written in the 20th century by poets who chose Montreal as their home.

This project is a musical setting of works by leading figures of Canadian Yiddish literature : Jacob Isaac Segal, Chava Rosenfarb, Rokhl Korn, Melekh Ravitch, Ida Maze, A.M. Klein, N.I. Gotlib. Supported by contemporary Yiddish experts including Pierre Anctil, Rivka Augenfeld and Goldie Morgentaler, this project aims to revive an important period of Yiddish culture in Canada. Oppenheim’s poignant melodic tunes reveal a range of styles from folk ballads to electro-infused popular songs.

The Poems speak of simple things and wonderments, of love and of care: the challenge of loving in a world of mistrust, a vision of purity in a corrupted world, love for children, the moments of anticipation of a loving encounter, the pleasures of a local park, the powerful and fearsome industry of the booming urban environment - the elements the personal and civic landscape of the new home of the Jewish refugees to 20th century Montreal.

The album, recorded and produced in 2016 by the great Montreal producer Howard Bilerman in his celebrated studio Hotel2Tango, was released on feb 16th, 2016.

On the recording, this project involves the following team :

Karen Young : Guest lead singer
Henri Oppenheim : Composition, accordion, guitar, singer
Michael Emenau : Laptop, vibraphone, percussion, bass
Vanessa Marcoux : Violin, mandolin

Since the summer 2016, the live version of the show involves

Henri Oppenheim : Singer, Composition, accordion, guitar
Michael Emenau : Laptop, vibraphone, percussion
Julien Patrice : Violin, mandolin, voice
Blanche Baillargeon : Bass, voice.

download THE "TUR MALKA" PORTFOLIO

read the "TUR MALKA" portfolio

The musicians

Henri Oppenheim (Voice, guitar, accordion) is an composer originally from Paris who has made Montreal his home for the past 17 years. A former researcher in mathematics, Henri studied composition and orchestration at McGill University (Montreal). He was the accordionist and director of the Montreal klezmer ensemble Kleztory for many years, producing between 2002 and 2012 over 300 concerts in Canada, the United States, South-America, China and Europe. Notable concerts include performances with les Orchestres Symphoniques de Montréal et de Québec and I Musici de Montréal. With I Musici de Montreal he recorded a CD in 2004 for the prestigious classical British label Chandos. A Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist, he has done many artistic collaborations, as composer, arranger, musical director, accordionist, percussionist and producer, primarily in the fields of Jewish music. He regularly gives conferences about Klezmer and Yiddish music. He has arranged and produced the 2007 CD with Kleztory, which earned the Canadian Opus Prize in 2007. Fotografie, his 2013 recording, was finalist of the Canadian 2014 Opus Prize.
Henri Oppenheim is an associate composer at the Canadian Music Centre of Quebec, a member of the music committee of the Conseil des Arts de Montreal, and a part time music therapist at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital.

Julien Patrice (violin, mandolin) recently completed a Masters in Music at the University of Montreal. He is continuing studies there for a diploma in further studies in professional performance. He has had the opportunity to perform widely with orchestras and chamber orchestras, while still a student. He joined Magillah in spring 2016

Michael Emenau (vibraphone, percussions, electronic treatment) (McGill 1989, BA music, classical percussion) has worked professionally as a vibraphonist, producer, re-mixer and arranger for 25 years, playing such diverse genres as jazz, rock, drum & bass, salsa, techno, country, Hindustani, gospel, baroque and orchestral music. During this time he has recorded on over 150 CDs, composed music for 8 films, toured internationally, and lived on 3 continents. Currently he is performing with Benoit Charest and the Triplets of Belleville, Karen Young, Alex Bellegarde and is an adjunct professor at Dubspot University based in New York City.

Blanche Baillargeon (bass) is a Montreal-based singer, composer and bass player. She has a degree in music from the University of Montreal in jazz interpretation. Her experience over the past ten years has included performance in a number of musical genres including popular song, jazz and world music. Her compositions have been for film and for her recent album, “Paysages du jour tranquille”. She joined Magillah in 2015.

Musicians featured on the album

Vanessa Marcoux (violin on the Cd) holds a BA in performance from McGill University as well as a baccalaureat in composition from the University of Montreal. She performs regularly as a soloist, as well as in chamber music ensembles and orchestras in styles including classical, contemporary and world music. She is also interested in musical improvisation. Her studies have continued in France, Germany as well as Canada. Her diverse interests and musical experiences are part of a life project to explore in depth the role of her instrument in the modern age.

Karen Young (lead singer on the Cd) "does with sounds what Pellan does with colours. I have seen this wonderful woman sing in over ten languages and each time her heart was there" – Dany Laferrière. Karen Young has been celebrated across North America principally as a jazz artist. She is best known for the many years she performed in duo with the bassist, Michel Donato. Her musical activities range from folk to jazz, to avant-garde and early music. She has performed with Le Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal, the avant-garde award-winning composer and performer, Jean Derome, in his group La Confiture de Gagaku, and the folk group, the Bug Alley Band. She has performed with the great jazz violinist Helmut Lipsky, and formed the Trio Triple Sens. Since 2013, she has been performing with Henri Oppenheim in the song settings he has done of Yiddish language poets from Montreal.