A new choral composition based on traditional Yiddish lullabies recently had its world premiere in Vancouver, Canada. Its Swedish Jewish composer, Jacob Mühlrad, is a rising star in the international classical music community. The piece, “Ay li lu (some in infinity),” which was conducted by artistic director Karl Turunen and performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir on April two, was portion of a concert entitled “Springtime.” After Vancouver, the piece will premiere in Singapore; Pretoria, S Africa, and in the cities Vaasa and Helsinki in Finland. The phrase “ay li lu” or “lyu-lyu” is heard frequently in Yiddish lullabies, since the soothing sound of these syllables can assistance peaceful a crying baby, much the same role that the phrase “hush-a-bye” plays in English-language lullabies.

Among the many Yiddish lullabies that comprise this phrase are Sholem Aleichem’s “Shlof mayn kind mayn treyst mayn sheyner” (Sleep my child, my only comfort) and Leyb Yampolsky’s “S’Dremlen Feygl af di Tsvaygn” (Birds are Dozing on the Branches). Mühlrad’s composition is a creative interplay between the composer’s interpretation of a Yiddish lullaby and the chanting of the early numbers of the infinite mathematical ratio Pi, named after the Greek letter. As the composer keep it: “It feels incredible to do this project as a co-commission with four outstanding choirs across four continents. In a time of global disintegration, having the opportunity to create a truly global piece about something that transcends all borders feels not only exciting but also important.”