The Israel Defense Forces Orchestra
Conquering the Red Square!
Boris Turchinsky
What is the difference between the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra and dozens, maybe hundreds of other military bands around the world? Well, for once, this orchestra is one of the few military bands (if not the only one) where all musicians are military conscripts.
Some time ago, the Orchestra of the Bulgarian Army visited Tel-Aviv. A number of respectable men in colorful uniform marched along the hall and went up the stage playing their national marches.
Respectable men Thats right! As one could notice at the famous Moscow military music festival Spasskaya Tower (2009), nearly all military bands from Russia, Germany, Italy, France as well as other countries consist of 30-50 y.o. musicians.
The members of military bands are usually career soldiers - that is, contract servicemen. One of the brightest examples is the structure of Russias military orchestras. Any member of any prominent military band of the Russian Federation such as of the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of Russia could become a soloist at any symphony or opera orchestra. However, these musicians serve in the military bands for a long period of time, sometimes for up to 25 years. This is their job, and they get paid for it.
WELL, AND WHAT DO WE HAVE?
Our boys and girls are drafted into the army for a time span of 2-3 years.
It was quite a surprise for everyone at the festival in Moscow. It is always a surprise to everyone that all members of the Israeli military band are short-term conscripts. Every year, the orchestra is rotated and up to the half of band members replaced. Every year, if not every half a year, the principal conductor has to start from scratch. This is what makes our military band unique: its always dynamic and it never gets stuck in the past.
The army years pass by and then, as we sing in one of the songs, Theyll have to take their guitars back anyway.
These bandsmen can play everything from marches to rock music. These young soldiers are real virtuosi with a wide-range of repertoire. It is unbelievable how many talented young people join the band every half a year! What does it mean? It means that the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra the only military band in the country, a.k.a. the State Ceremonial orchestra, is a source of incredible talents!
Ive been trusted with a song - thats my weapon and my prong.
By the way, where do the musicians of the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra keep their musical instruments? - Well, at the same place where any Israeli soldier keeps his weapon: not in an arm rack, not at an armory, not at a store but on himself. The soldiers join the army and leave it with their instruments. Ive been trusted with a song - thats my weapon and my prong.
In general, if we want to be accurate, the very sanctum of the orchestra is the principal conductors room. It is a place where everything is being born all the material the orchestra performs at state ceremonies and everything the orchestra performed on Russias central square as a participant of the International Military Music festival.
An ordinary room behind an old-fashioned, annoyingly primitive iron door. The Israeli heat meets its opposite here the cold wind from the air conditioner makes it almost unbearable. This is how Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran describes what he does in his office: I just come to work in the morning, like everybody else. As everybody else, I mark the time of my arrival with a plastic card And then I just wait for the day to be over.
He likes to make jokes. Did you watch the news on TV about the success the Israeli Defense Forces Orchestra at the Spasskaya Tower 2009 festival? The success that spread from the largest and the reddest square of Russia to the whole world had been born here, in this small office.
This unbelievable success was being forged here, in the backyard, on a tiny parade ground - a parade ground that was their Red Square. This is where this future success was being devised, planned and rehearsed by this man who likes to joke about his work. By a national and an international professional who works like everybody else from 8 to 5.
BESSARABIA ODESSA ISRAEL
As Michael says about himself, he is a simple small-town Jew from Bessarabia who performed military marches during his army years in Odessa. But just google Israel Defense Forces Orchestra (e.g:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0ChWsmC-nQ&NR=1) -
and you will see the way Michael directed and conducted the performance at the Russian Red Square.
This tiny room is a treasury of ideas and of many other priceless things. A wide collection of CDs including the national anthems of different countries as the orchestra performs at state ceremonies; a quality mini system to listen to the music.
Everything is based on his initiatives, his ideas and his realizations. If you ask any young soldier who directs their performance, or who rehearses it with then or who teaches them not only music but drill and ceremony , you will get a short and direct answer of course, its our principal conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran!
SAME OLD SHARNITANIT.
Traditionally, there are 60 members of the orchestra - approximately half boys and half girls.
How are they selected? Well, in a very simple way. Each candidate enters the principal conductors office and persuades him that he/she is worth to be a member of the orchestra. Thats it. Of course, he/she persuades him not by mere talk but by showing excellent music skills and the ability to play a musical instrument.
They do it in front of a commission. However, it is the principal conductor who has the final word. And he is the one who is to be thanked for everything we see in the news about the official meetings of heads of states and governments, for everything we see at the parades, concerts, for everything we like or dislike. Well, and if anything he is the one to blame.
That is why the criteria go far beyond faces or good looks.
However, during the performance at Spasskaya Tower the sharnitonit (Hebrew for drum major) was such a beautiful girl that all the channels were trying to take a close-up of her! By the way, it was Shirley Frunkin, she has already left the army
If a performer looks good but plays bad, then 'And you, my friends, no matter your positions,
Will never be musicians!' If you are going to watch the bands performance YouTube: the musicians are of different height one of the girls is tiny but just listen to the way she is playing! And the band is standing in such a way that it doesnt matter. Besides, height is not something the spectators are going to notice when they are enjoying the music.
The key point is the quality of human resources. And who is to thank for the quality? First and foremost, it is due to him, their mentor.
Everyone cant forget the way your guys were crouching and standing up while playing Hava Nagila in the Red Square
Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran smiles back. He sees that his idea didnt go unnoticed
They've got flowers planted in an old tuba in their parade ground. A missile constructor once told me that they used to plant flowers in the pipes of old strategic missiles. The craving for beauty is indestructible; people want to have it everywhere. The swords are sometimes beaten not only into plowshares but into banal flower vases. It turns out one can make a home for it from a detail of an old missile, or from a military trumpet made for calling the troops together.
Ive got a good tuba student now. You know, last year we didnt have any tubists at all among the newcomers. Weve got a shortage of them.
Interesting, isnt it? The principal conductor makes all the decisions here; however, he is also dependent on the students who come to auditions. And what happens if the necessary performer doesnt show up?..
In that case, he would probably contact the conductors of childrens orchestras. Childrens wind music bands are extremely popular in Israel. Most often, these bands are organized at local conservatories (a conservatory in Israel is a school for kids aged 8-18 y.o., depending on the musical instrument. These bands usually are of excellent quality. For instance, the orchestra of the Petach Tikva Conservatory (conducted by Michael Delman) has won a number of international contests and festivals and has 4 CDs. Or let us take the orchestra of Kfar Saba (conducted by Ofer Ein-Habar), the orchestra from Netanya (conducted by Moti Myron) and others. All of them are friends with Michael Yaaran, and its a potential. Once in a while, the colleagues call with a suggestion: You know, Ive got a good baritonist for you this year or: Well send a trumpeter to the audition. But anyway, these guys dont just get enrolled for granted. They need to join the army first.
One should say that the orchestra often plays with some other kids and teen bands of the country. It gives the young musicians some extra motivation for studying. Everyone wants to be like military musicians, everybody wants to join this orchestra someday.
The orchestra has a rich and wide repertoire with both difficult pieces and popular songs by Israeli composers.
The orchestra consists of instrumentalists and singers: the orchestra gives many concerts for Israeli military men who want to hear some popular melodies. The orchestra has recently released a CD with the excerpts of The west side story by Leonid Bernstein, the Akumta march () by the Israeli composer B. Pigovat , the concerto for clarinet and orchestra by A. Shaw (soloist: O. Toledano), the Winners parade march by the Chelyabinsk composer V. Osherov, An American in Paris by G. Gershwin, the waltz from Masquerade by A. Khachaturian there are 19 pieces altogether.
Michael Yaaron selects his students very carefully. He has to raise them. He has to take them to the Red Square, the 5th Avenue in NY and to the meeting ceremonies at the Ben Gurion airport. And the level has to be adequate!
The (P)Russian school
The Russian way of military drilling is actually a copy of the Prussian way. The Israeli soldiers do not bend their arms while marching - this is the way Englishmen do. So, as you can imagine, the Israeli soldiers usually march like English soldiers when they guard is being changed near the Buckingham Palace in London.
In Russia and in most post-soviet armies, soldiers bend their arms and keep their legs straight while marching. They march at the speed of 120 steps a minute. In Israeli army it is 108 steps. Much calmer. Almost the tempo of a waltz.
Unlike many other armies, the Israeli army does not overrate the necessity of drilling and ceremony. The key point is studying the machines and military strategies: tanks, ships and planes, border security, counter-terrorism. Yamin-smol (left-right!) comes second . That is why the guys had to sweat to get ready for the performance in the Red Square. The month of August was the hardest. The conductor and the guys felt like squeezed lemons and the girls were bursting into tears. In many languages, including Russian, the expression military woman is usually used to describe the wife of a soldier but in the Israeli Army a female soldier means a female soldier a soldier like everybody else.
Of course, the orchestra had been taught drilling and ceremony before. However, an extra course was taken and a new program designed. That is why they looked so great
If you asked any of them who had prepared them, you would get the one and only answer: Who could that be? Of course, it was him! Our principal conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran.
He has been in Israel Army for 33 years.
Does he remember anything from this previous experience in the Soviet Army? He does. But it is almost useless, its another way here.
The Spasskaya Tower Festival, 2009.
In this chapter we continue the story of our musicians performing in the Red Square, marching through the streets of Moscow, playing in the parks and gardens and being followed by admirers everywhere. However, I will try to avoid saying banal things like They marched through the main street , or They were playing in the citys picturesque gardens etc. We are talking about music, and music hates banalities. It always gives us new ideas and new discoveries. Music is always up to date!
Due to the Spasskaya Tower festival, Russians got to know the Israel defense Forces Military Orchestra and they recognized these guys not only as brilliant musicians but , as representatives of a small country whose army is fighting terrorism.
The attitude to Israel and to the Israeli army changed after Moscow had endured the tragic explosions. Shalom to you, our dearest Israeli friends, the anchorman said. And it sounded really warm and sincere.
And what is Moscow for these youngsters from Israel?
Moscow Well, Moscow is Moscow. Truth be told, its not that much in this phrase for a loyal Israeli heart. And if it does mean something well, then its just a bit. Just like any other city where these guys had to perform. They did it the same way in New York well, it was even more triumphant as they were immediately adored by the local Jewish community the community that probably outnumbers the whole population of Israel.
What does Moscow mean for them? And what does it mean to him, to their commander?
Michael Yaaran used to serve in the Soviet Army and that means, had a red star on his service cap. The miniature copy of the red star on top of the Spasskaya Tower - and this was also the name of the festival. For all of us for those, who are called Russians in Israel, Moscow and the Red Square have always been something very special. By the way, Michael used to serve at the orchestra that was supposed to be the best at the one in Odessa military district. Their conductor, the talented military conductor Leonid Salik has already retired. Could anyone ever imagine in the 1960s that his Jewish orchestra would ever perform in front of the Kremlin? Michael is really very proud of it now.
Unlike his Israeli students, he says that to him the trip to Moscow was very special and very different from anything else. Why? Does he really need to explain that? As he says, to him, it was a successful ending of a certain period in his life. A triumphant ending.
Neither puffing their cheeks, nor puffing out their chests
The Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran was awarded a medal in the Kremlin. You can tell that he is proud to show it but he talks about in a humble way. He had a meeting with V.V. Putin, The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Yaaran was the only principal conductor of a foreign orchestra who could speak Russian. But Michael is not boasting about anything. As they say in Odessa, Musicians playing wind instruments should neither puff their cheeks nor puff out their chests.
Sometimes you may read an article about a wind band and come across an interesting compliment that the musicians did great, you could see them puffing their cheeks which is funny because the rule # 1 is that if you play a wind instrument, you should not puff your cheeks!
"Not until the first star comes out!
Every evening, up to 20 thousand people were present in the Red Square, and every evening, they were welcoming the bands with applause.
There was a situation when Moscows TV channels gave a wrong explanation of a curious incident. The whole thing could be seriously misunderstood if it wasnt for Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran who explained it to us.
It was on Saturday. A Moscow journalist in the Red Square said that according to the precepts of Judaism, playing musical instruments is banned on Saturday and everyone was curious whether the Israelites were going to perform. However, they did come to play! the journalist commented with a grin.
It sounded as if they were doing Moscow a favor. As if they really did break the rules of their faith.
After I had watched this episode on TV, I couldnt understand one thing. If they had known that they would have to perform on Saturday, why did they go to the festival? And if they really did break the Sabbath, why were they so reluctant to come?
The principal conductor shed some light on this.
No one was even thinking of breaking the Sabbath, and no one broke it. Observing the holy Sabbath is an order for every Israeli soldier. That is why on Saturdays evening the members of the orchestra was waiting patiently for the first stars to come out that is, for the end of Sabbath.
The festival lasted for a week, and the orchestra was performing every day. However, on Saturday, everything was different. The conductor explained everything to the Chief Conductor of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Major General Valeriy Khalilov. Mr. Khalilov understood everything and agreed to it.
The culmination moment, when the orchestra came to the square was the Motzei Sabbath - that is the very end of Saturday. The very moment they got able to do it.
- We missed our turn twice as we were waiting for the first star it had to come out in a few seconds.
In general, such international festivals are usually held either on Saturday or on Sunday. So, the Israelites who go there to represent their country should be ready to use some tricks in order to perform just like the others but not to break their national traditions. This is one more thing the Israeli Defense Forces Orchestra did great in Moscow!
Looking young from his back
Giving an example to the others,
The officer comes just on time no need to bother.
The orchestra and he are face-to-face,
And military musics filling up the space
(F. LAUBE)
Michael, have you heard this song about a military conductor? Do you know it?
No, Ive never heard it I do remember another song - Why do you girls love handsome guys? However, the only lyrics I can recall today are the last words of the song such kind of love brings suffering.
As he says, it probably means that being a professional musician is actually a sweet torture. Besides, it is also a hint that military musicians are really handsome and that girls have always liked them. This is an issue we have also discussed.
One lady told me once: I adore musicians, you know! Especially the military ones! Yeah, a military musician is probably the right choice!
They say when you get older, your spine gets crooked. Well, its another way for a military conductor. The guy who has the right to turn his back to the members of royal families should always keep his spine straight and look young and healthy.
Conductor Yaaran is not an athlete and he is far over well, let us say, far over 20. But just observe the way he looks when he is conducting the orchestra you can just drown in these impressions.
However, he does feel his age sometimes. The Lieutenant Colonel Yaaran who has spent so many years in the army can leave it any moment now. He can retire to spend some time home not just the time after 5 p.m. just having some good rest and getting his perks and pension. But serving here is his favorite profession. How can I possibly leave it? This is such a pleasure he says. These guys make him feel younger. And its another benefit of it! He always has the chance to get some adrenaline.
Funny, isnt it? They say when you get older, its your spine that is getting old and crooked, but a military conductor looks young from the back.
Every time like its the first time
- Michael, you told me your service here is your favorite job, you pleasure and a pleasure for your youngsters. But dont you get sick and tired of playing the same old pieces? Can you say that every day its like the first time? Lets draw some parallels. Any opera house shows Aida and Carmen and any operetta performs The Merry Widow and Silva. By the way, theres an opera house in Prague where theyve been showing Mozarts Don Juan for over 40 years. Time passes by, new generations come, but they still have a big audience.
- No, I never get tired of playing what I love. Just like the opera fans never get tired of hearing their favorite arias. There is some kind of routine every day. But thats what you have in any job, right? It could be that our musical routine is even a little nicer than some other kind of it. Thats what I tell my students see what kind of job we have? We play at ceremonies and play the same pieces every time. Its routine for us. However, the participants of the ceremonies change and every time theyre different! It might be their first time that theyre going to remember. Its like a wedding, see? At weddings, the orchestras play the Mendelssohns wedding march! It might be their tenth, twentieth, hundredth time. But it might be just once for the young married couple. This is routine for us. But our goal is to make is unique, like the first time. We do it for those 2 thousand people who come to see the oath of allegiance at the Western Wall or who come to any state holiday it might be the one and only time they see it, and we are bound to make it unforgettable. However, sometimes routine does win, and then I get angry.
Music teaches us kindness
-By the way, what kind of person are you? Do you often hit the ceiling? After all, you are a military man and you are bound to be strict.
No, I hardly ever get angry (he is answering without thinking). To my mind, you cant be a musician, or an artist if you are arrogant and quick-tempered. Music is a tender and sensitive material. It is born in the heart, and only a kind and compassionate heart can really understand it. Although Bringing out repentance is also a task of music. I cannot bring out something good if I make the musicians obey with harsh words or shouting. You know, though The military drum is perfect for that it is supposed to keep the rhythm- that is, to keep discipline.
- Well, its not only for drilling. A trumpet and a drum call (or a horn) calls everyone to a battlefield! Such is the great paradox of military music: the combination of threat and lyrics.
A military musician is a soldier, but he has a personality, a soul that despises war and longs for peace. What stratum of population is the most peaceful of all? Well, soldiers! Their hearts long for beautiful tunes.
Michael, how would you explain, what is a military wind band? Why does the army need an orchestra?
- One time, I got a call from a friend of mine. He works for a special education establishment where our mega bosses study. He asked me to make a musical evening for them. We prepared some information on the history of marches, and we performed the marches and held a short lecture on it. The topic was: The military march as a kind of music calling to the battlefield. The whole story of how it emerged and everything. People were stunned, they were more than interested. So I hope this little story gives an answer to your question.
- As such, music affects the soul in a way that we cant explain. It might cause lyrical, romantic, nostalgic feelings. A man probably primarily percepts and responds to the sounds signaling for battle. How do you think, why is military music different from other genres?
-The military music is different from any other kind of music mainly because its the so-called Platzmusik, the kind of music that can be played on the way somewhere. All the orders of the conductor are to be fulfilled in the same way as the orders to any other soldiers. The music itself is bound to call for discipline, and you need to give the musicians certain orders. The rhythm of a military march is a rhythm that is attacking. A military march is for attacking, not for retreating
Ziko Graziani a legend of the Israeli culture
The principal conductor of the orchestra of the Israeli Defense Forces Lieutenant Colonel Michael Yaaran is a student of the famous Ziko Graziani, chief conductor of the Israeli Army a composer and a wonderful music adaptor. Michael had been his deputy for 20 years.
Graziani was an unbelievably bright personality. He was s son of a Bulgarian merchant of Jewish descent but from the very first days of his life, his soul was longing for music. In 1952, he started serving at the Israel Defense Forces. As there had been no musical adaptions of national music for orchestra, Ziko started adapting popular Israeli songs for wind orchestra. Since 1962, Graziani was made chief conductor of the Israel Defense Forces, and he had worked there till his death in 2003. Ziko Graziani conducted the orchestra at state ceremonies. One of the most important events for him and his orchestra was the visit of the President of Egypt Anwar Sadat to Israel. It was the time when everyone thought that the peace in the Middle East was a matter of months.
As Yaaran says, Ive learnt everything I know from Graziani. Probably, he also means he gained these high aspirations and this longing for perfection from his teacher.
Graziosis gold conducting baton is also one of the orchestras treasures.
When Muses talk
The famous festival of military bands in Haifa dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel was also an idea of the conductor Yaaran, and it was not an easy job to arrange all that. And, when the military bands from ten participant countries arrived, the logistics was very difficult.
The musicians of all participant countries lined up forming a huge Star of David. Among them was the State Military Orchestra with the conductor of the central Military Orchestra of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation A. Kolotushkin. This is the second greatest military musician in Russia after General V. Khalilov.
It would be great if it the festival took place in Tel-Aviv, in the very center of the country. But the authorities picked up Haifa, our Northern capital and well they ought to know better. This is the army, no one asks any questions here.
The stadium was full to the top! It was an unforgettable sight. Each orchestra presented a unique performance. The military men decided to add up the elements of a military show. In short, it was the very moment when the military muses started talking and when they talk, everyone around just keeps silent and gazes in amazement.
And on that note On this peaceful note we would like to finish our story about the Orchestra of the Israeli Defense Forces and about their chief conductor Lieutenant Colonel Michael Yaaran.
