Born into a family that had lived in Florence since the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968) entertained only a distant relationship with the music he heard at synagogue. It was only when he discovered Schelemo a rhapsody for cello and orchestra written in 1916 by Ernest Bloch that he began to understand what “Jewish music” could be. In the mid-1920s the young composer found a collection of prayers set to music among his maternal grandfather’s papers. Something clicked and from then on Jewish tradition would become a source of inspiration for Castelnuovo-Tedesco. In 1928 two years after publishing theDances of King David he wrote this Vocalise-Étude for medium voice and piano at the request of vocal teacher Amédée-Landély Hettich who wanted to include it in the Répertoire moderne de Vocalises-Études published by Leduc. The piece became so popular that several instrumental adaptations were soon created published under the title Chant hébraïque (for violin and piano: AL17 713; for cello and piano: AL 17196). Divided into three sections this wordless melody opens with a “sad and impassioned” chant that appears to grieve the tragic fate of the Jewish people. A folk dance follows in which a “lively and stubborn” movement has great panache. The third section returns to the initial poignant theme before briefly reiterating the dance motif allowing the piece to conclude on a hopeful note. The composer himself would adopt this proactive stance refusing to yield to resignation when fleeing Mussolini’s anti-Semitic laws he decided to emigrate in 1939 to the United States a land of refuge to which he would remain faithful until his death some thirty years later.

Volume Iv - Songs 1920-1923-The Peter Warlock Critical Edition series represents a treasure trove of English song.This the fourth volume focuses upon songs for the Medium Voice from the period 1920-1923. The songs of Peter Warlock are inspiring and intriguing pieces that rank him with the greatest English composers of all time. This is truly a superb collection of some of the best of his work painstakingly and meticulously edited by Michael Pilkington. This revised Critical Edition is an accurate faithful and exhaustive volume that maintains Warlock’s original keys and intentions. With sixteen songs each featuring an in-depth commentary this is a tremendousacquisition for any enthusiasts of English song.

Volume Ii - Songs 1911-1919-The Peter Warlock Critical Edition series represents a treasure trove of English song.This the second volume focuses upon songs for the Medium Voice from the period 1911-1919. The songs of Peter Warlock are inspiring and intriguing pieces that rank him with the greatest English composers of all time. This is truly a superb collection of some of the best of his work painstakingly and meticulously edited by Michael Pilkington. This revised Critical Edition is an accurate faithful and exhaustive volume that maintains Warlock’s original keys and intentions. With sixteen songs each featuring an in-depth commentary this is a tremendousacquisition for any enthusiasts of English song.

Volume Vi - Songs 1923-1926-The Peter Warlock Critical Edition series represents a treasure trove of English song.This the sixth volume focuses upon songs for the Medium Voice from the period 1923-1926. The songs of Peter Warlock are inspiring and intriguing pieces that rank him with the greatest English composers of all time. This is truly a superb collection of some of the best of his work painstakingly and meticulously edited by Michael Pilkington. This revised Critical Edition is an accurate faithful and exhaustive volume that maintains Warlock’s original keys and intentions. With fourteen songs each featuring an in-depth commentary this is a tremendousacquisition for any enthusiasts of English song.