"The Watchman," a musical by Deborah Richa.

Hear demos of some of the songs:

So far, Chris has finished scoring 5 of the songs and his daughter Stephanie has sung 2 of them, with an additional version of song number 13 in Hebrew (thanks to Erika Schon for the Hebrew lesson). The first song ("Pray for the Peace") is sung by Don Edgerton. The English version of "My Name is Ruth" was the one Stephanie and Chris did long-distance (via the internet, 4000 miles apart). He used mainly ethnic instruments in "God Said to Abram" (a first for Chris). "My Name is Ruth" has a big ending, however, there is one song after it!

(Disclaimer: these works are all "in progress")

Streaming versions of the MP3 files:

The songs will open in a new window for streaming. When you close that window, you should be returned to this one.

Synopsis:

Winter, 1981. Micha Rosenblum is a Soviet dissident who has been stripped of his license to practice law. He and his wife, Katya, have been placed under Communist government surveillance after having been denied visas to Israel.  Subsequently, the authorities imprison Katya for practicing Judaism in her own home. Ruth, a Christian neighbor and friend, raises their infant daughter for the years that Katya remains in a Moscow prison. Later, with the advent of Peristroika, Micha wrestles with the choices: remaining in the USSR, immigrating to the USA, or continuing his pursuit of immigration to Israel.

Dr. Joel Miller, a foreign-born, Muslim-background believer, practices medicine in New York City.  In his free hours, he works diligently to warn the Jews and Christians of the United States, to return to Israel to escape the approaching Holocaust threatening not only Jewish people, but Christians who stand in solidarity with Israel. His stand attracts opposition from a Rabbi and his own Protestant pastor.

A neo-Nazi gang member and a militant Muslim threaten Dr. Miller's life. He sends his American-born wife and two sons to the safety of Israel, where they hope to achieve citizenship as they wait for Dr. Miller to join them.  He prays fervently for the release of Katya Rosenblum, as well as for the freedom of captive Soviet Jewry, symbolized by Anatoly Sharansky, a leader in the movement who suffered twelve years of imprisonment.

As Dr. Miller completes his project and leaves for Israel, tragedy strikes.

The Watchman provides a deeper look into the hearts of Christians from all nations who love the Jewish people and the State of Israel. In addition to the original score, the music includes the familiar Hiney Mah Tov and Hatikvah. This work may spark controversy at this time because of the issues it addresses.

        Portions copyright Deborah Richa 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008         Portions copyright Chris Yavelow 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

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