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Aryeh Har-Even
Composer, Writer

Welcome to my website
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my outreach. If something about my music, literary writings or personal story resonates with you, please drop me an email so I can add you to my mailing list. And if you’re a professional who's interested in my work or just wants to say hi, I’d love to hear from you.

MINI BLOG: Johnny Appleseed
I’m a composer who has largely led a reclusive life. From as far back as I remember, I’ve spent countless hours creating my art only to not follow through so well when promoting it. Because of this, my body of work remains mostly unknown. But I believe in my work and don't want my efforts to have been in vain. So, better late than never, I've set a goal to overcome my personal issues and be consistent about getting the word out that I exist. Yup, Johnny Appleseed, that's me.

REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS

re Rock 'n' Moses (an opera-musical)
June 8, 1999
“To Aryeh Har-Even, regarding his rock musical on the story of Moses: This script is compelling and colorful. The words inspire the imagination and succeed in creating a sense of hope and peace for humankind. Through a delightful twist on inter-generational storytelling, “Rock ‘n’ Moses” provides a new, dynamic approach to the teaching of respect, understanding and tolerance. We wish Aryeh Har-Even and his team the best of luck in making this much-needed project a reality.”
Jim Carnes, director
Teaching Tolerance Project
Southern Poverty Law Center
Montgomery, Alabama

re Rock 'n' Moses (an opera-musical)
January 14, 1999
“In haste - thanks for the libretto which I found both interesting and entertaining… Moses is so much in the news now that it could find a producer… Wishing you success - Elie Wiesel“
Elie Wiesel (1928–2016 author, Nobel laureate, Holocaust survivor)

re Q-107 Radio Homegrown Album, Vol. 2, Basement Records (a Toronto rock band competition)
April 24, 1980
"Rockit Trip, by King Rockit, on the other hand, is a wonderful re-ordering of a variety of rock’s cliches and, as a result, it is perhaps the most interesting of the commercial efforts on the album."
Peter Goddard (1943-22 journalist, author)
Toronto Star

MICRO BLOG: re Q-107 Radio Homegrown Contest
Out of more than 500 submissions, 10 finalists made it onto the album. My entry, Rockit Trip, was frequently played on the radio and was listed on the Q-107 Top 10. And if you're wondering, I was King Rockit. More to come at a later date.

re Work In Progress (a musical-novel on an original story)
October 25, 2001
“You write well, with poignancy, but somehow I remain firm in my own reluctance to combine the Holocaust with theater — that does not mean you shouldn’t do so, it means simply that I cannot. Hence my inability to comment on your project — I hope you understand.
With best wishes — Elie Wiesel”
Elie Wiesel (1928–2016 author, Nobel laureate, Holocaust survivor)

MICRO BLOG: re Work In Progress (a musical-novel…)
After gathering dust for about two decades, I decided to take advantage of my near total isolation during the covid-19 pandemic and get back to work on this project. More to come at a later date.

re Piano Recital, November 1, 1981
November 19, 1981
“The Toronto musician performed some of his works at Heliconian Hall in Yorkville recently.
He is at his best when he uses the Prokofieff-Shostokovich influence as a springboard for his own original ideas. The final movement of his Sonata No. 3, entitled “Presto Agitato,” is his most absorbing work to date. There is a fast, semi-romantic, semi-abstract lyric line reminiscent of the best of Prokofieff, yet the work is distinguishable on its own.
Aside from one or two slower quiet passages that disrupt the pace, this is a thoroughly satisfying work.”
Rick Kardonne (19??-20 journalist, author)
The Canadian Jewish News

MICRO BLOG: re Piano Recital, November 1, 1981
Around age 16, I caught the classical bug and turned my attention from the guitar to the piano as I felt it would serve me best as a composer. Regarding this one-off composer-at-the-piano recital: I played my first three sonatas as well as a few other original works, before a filled to capacity hall of about 100 people.