I Was A Desert:
Songs of the MatriarchS
A staged song cycle about Biblical women for choir, rock band, and string trio
Composed and performed by Alicia Jo Rabins
Commissioned in 2024 by the Camas High School Choir under the direction of Conductor Ethan Chessin,
with whom the piece premiered at Revolution Hall, Portland and Museum of Jewish Heritage, NYC
Currently planning tours for 2025 and beyond, in collaboration with local choirs and ensembles. Contact us directly if your choir or community would like to join this unique, transformative project!
“One of the most touching, extraordinary shows I've ever been to.”
“Do not think twice. It will be one of the most uplifting and impactful musical experiences of your year.”
“Beautiful. SO many tears in my eyes, so much joy in my heart.”
“One of the most beautiful examples of creative collaboration you will see.”
—Audience respomses
More about the show:
Commissioned by the Camas High School Choir under the direction of award-winning conductor and educator Ethan Chessin, I Was A Desert: Songs of the Matriarchs is a gorgeous, richly-textured, life-affirming multimedia song cycle that builds upon Rabins' long-running Girls in Trouble project, musically re-interpreting the ancient stories of women in Jewish tradition and seeking the hidden places where their lives overlap with ours today.
With a colossal musical scale matching the power of these stories, this intergenerational, intercultural, and interdisciplinary supergroup draws from a rich palette of musical genres including orchestral indie rock, folk, and Jewish traditions.
Throughout the show, Rabins explores the meaning of spiritual texts in a secular world, and what it means to center women's experiences in historically patriarchal traditions. Personal reflections by the singers are woven into each performance, connecting ancient Biblical stories to the performers' own lives. A celebration of feminist spirituality, diasporic Jewish culture and deep intercultural connections, this show is not to be missed!
The creation and premieres of this project were made possible thanks to generous support from the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Peleh Fund, Arts for Learning Northwest, CMA Foundation, The Emily Georges Gottfried Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Friends of Camas Arts, Third Angle New Music, and Revolution Hall. This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission. This project is supported by funds from the Oregon Arts Commission.
Photos from the West Coast premiere of I Was A Desert: Songs of the Matriarchs by Jason Quigley Photography. Videos by Seth Nehil.