Chamber Music Cello, Piano

SKU: CF.BF141

Composed by Ernest Bloch. Edited by Julian Schwarz. 12+8 pages. Carl Fischer Music #BF141. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.BF141).

ISBN 9781491159989. UPC: 680160918584.

The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance.

The first movement, Prayer, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski's (1912-1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu. This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both Prayer and Janowski's Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos.

The second movement, Supplication (the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, Jewish Song, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience.

The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch's most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917.

Though the popularity of Bloch's oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America's composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.
The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance. The first movement, Prayer, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski's (1912-1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu. This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both Prayer and Janowski's Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos. The second movement, Supplication (the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, Jewish Song, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience. The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch's most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917. Though the popularity of Bloch's oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America's composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.
The three pieces From Jewish Life were composed by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch in 1924, the same year he took U.S. citizenship. Though clearly inspired and influenced by Jewish experience, they are purely concert pieces, and do not provide any specific liturgical significance.The first movement, “Prayer”, is a deeply heartfelt plea to the almighty. As Neil W Levin writes, “The initial four-note motive in the minor mode, together with its elaboration in the ensuing phrases, sounds as if it might have served as the skeletal model for Max Janowski’s (1912–1991) now well-known setting of the High Holyday prayer Avinu Malkenu.” This prayer has special meaning in my own spiritual life, as I have been singing it since my childhood. Both “Prayer” and Janowski’s Avinu Malkenu are cantorial in nature, to be sung with heartfelt pathos.The second movement, “Supplication� � (the act of begging humbly), has more angst, almost a sense of urgency as a result of the rhythmic motor in the piano. The third movement, “Jewish Song”, evokes a quintessentially Eastern-European melancholy. Its falling motives with bent intonation might represent the pain of the Jewish experience.The works were dedicated to Dutch-American cellist Hans Kindler, a highly influential musician of his time, and founder of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kindler was the soloist for the world premiere of Bloch’s most celebrated work, Schelomo in 1917.Though the popularity of Bloch’s oeuvre has been dominated by works of Jewish connection, we should not forget that Bloch had many other stylistic periods, including Franco-Belgian, modal, serial, and even American folk. In 1927, he was awarded Musical America’s composition prize in a unanimous vote, despite being regarded as an outsider by American music writers at the time. His winning work America (1928) was performed by every major orchestra and conductor in the following seasons. May we be proud of his contributions to American music.

Choral Cello, Piano, alto 1, alto 2, soprano 1, soprano 2

SKU: CF.CM9625

Composed by Jimmy Baas. Sws. Performance Score. 16 pages. Duration 3 minutes, 49 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #CM9625. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.CM9625).

ISBN 9781491156988. UPC: 680160915545. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: Bb major. English, English. William Butler Yeats.

The Everlasting Voices is the perfect blend of textural variety and harmonic interest for the advanced treble ensemble. Employing a powerful text, Baas' vocal layering coupled with piano and optional cello make this compelling piece a programming must!.
O sweet everlasting Voices, be still; Go to the guards of the heavenly fold And bid them wander obeying your will, Flame under flame, till Time be no more; Have you not heard that our hearts are old, That you call in birds, in wind on the hill, In shaken boughs, in tide on the shore? O sweet everlasting Voices, be still. This SSAA choral work by Jimmy Baas was comissioned by the Lumberton HS Varsity Treble Choir. The opening and closing lines of the poem, O sweet everlasting voices, be still provide the perfect bookends for two larger sections of the poem. These two sections are equally divided into verses. The opening line is used once again as a transition between the verses. The previously mentioned lines, O sweet everlasting voices, are overlapped as different layers of voices enter and sustain. A fifth and sixth voice, the cello and piano accompaniment take part in these layers as well. The words be still are very much a part of the mood each time as the everlasting voices become quiet and still. The two verses feature different voices within the SSAA choir. Verse 1, the sopranos, and verse 2 the altos. There are many moments in this piece to explore the full range and color of the SSAA choir. The piano and cello play an important part throughout, making this piece an excellent choice for any festival women's chorus.
O sweet everlasting Voices, be still;Go to the guards of the heavenly foldAnd bid them wander obeying your will,Flame under flame, till Time be no more;Have you not heard that our hearts are old,That you call in birds, in wind on the hill,In shaken boughs, in tide on the shore?O sweet everlasting Voices, be still.This SSAA choral work by Jimmy Baas wascomissioned by the Lumberton HS Varsity Treble Choir.The opening and closing lines of the poem, “O sweeteverlasting voices, be still” provide the perfect bookendsfor two larger sections of the poem. These two sectionsare equally divided into verses. The opening line is usedonce again as a transition between the verses.The previously mentioned lines, “O sweet everlastingvoices,” are overlapped as different layers of voices enterand sustain. A fifth and sixth voice, the cello and pianoaccompaniment take part in these layers as well.The words “be still” are very much a part of the moodeach time as the everlasting voices become quietand still.The two verses feature different voices within the SSAAchoir. Verse 1, the sopranos, and verse 2 the altos. Thereare many moments in this piece to explore the full range andcolor of the SSAA choir. The piano and cello play an importantpart throughout, making this piece an excellent choice for anyfestival women’s chorus.

Cello and Piano

SKU: BT.EMBZ14779

Composed by Franz Liszt. Book Only. Composed 2011. 16 pages. Editio Musica Budapest #EMBZ14779. Published by Editio Musica Budapest (BT.EMBZ14779).

The arranger of this work (a well-known Hungarian composer living in Romania) writes: This piece has always excited my imagination, from several points of view. First of all, its name. The German title, the obstinate one, may refer to its ostinato character. This is close to Liszt's programme concept, but the French word 'obstiné' is closer in meaning to stubborn. There is just a shade of difference, but to me it is important, because the latter suggests the description of a type of behaviour, the emotional state of a dancer's inner frame of mind abstracted into movements, expressed in dance movements, and this is a fascinating interpretation. The demonstration ofstubborn resistance and defiance to the point of exhaustion was not a frequently occurring phenomenon with Liszt. Secondly, at the beginning of the seventies Zoltán Kocsis played the piece in Transylvania. At that time, I asked the composer, Is the character of the continuous staccato in the left hand sharp, short, or an accompanying background like a constant shadow? Is it a weighty Brahmsian staccato, an ominous knocking? - and so on. Then there are the Bartókian false relations that keep recurring in the work, the B-E flat-G, etc. That foreshadows Debussy, creating harmonic thrills that, when I hear the work, keep my continuing interest alive for it. Finally, my immediate reason for arranging the work was of a family nature: in connection with Liszt's jubilee year, my daughter, who is a cellist, wanted a 'more energetic' piece to play at a bicentenary concert an addition to the existing slow, lyrical, or sombre works written by Liszt for the cello.

The arranger of this work, the well-known Romania-based Hungarian composer Cs ky Boldizsár writes: This piece has always excited my imagination, from several points of view. First of all, its name. The German title, the obstinateone, may refer to its ostinato character, this is close to Liszt's programme concept, but the French word 'obstiné' is closer in meaning to stubborn. There is just a shade of difference, but to me it is important, because the lattersuggests the description of a type of behaviour, the emotional state of a dancer's inner frame of mind abstracted into movements, expressed in dance movements, and this is a fascinating interpretation. The demonstration of stubbornresistance , defiance to the point of exhaustion, was not a frequently occurring phenomenon with Liszt. Secondly, at the beginning of the seventies Zoltán Kocsis played the piece here in Transylvania (Romania).

Der Bearbeiter des Werkes, der renommierte ungarische Komponist aus Rumänien, schreibt: Dieses Stück reizte immer schon meine Phantasie, sogar in vielerlei Hinsicht. Als erstes sein Name. Der deutsche Titel ‚Hartnäckiger' kann auf den ihm innewohnenden ostinativen Charakter hinweisen, was der Liszt'schen Programm-Konzeption näher kommt, das französische ,obstiné' steht jedoch eher dem Wort ‚dickköpfig' nah. Das sind nur geringfügige Unterschiede, mir ist das dennoch wichtig, weil aus Letzterem die Darstellung eines Verhaltens, der in Tanzgesten ausgedrückte, zur Bewegung abstrahierte innere emotionale Zustand eines Tänzers durchscheint, und das ist eine überaus beeindruckendeErklärun g. Die Demonstration des bis zur Erschöpfung reichenden Trotzes, der störrischen Kraft erscheint bei Liszt selten. Der zweite Aspekt: Zu Beginn der 70er Jahre spielte bei uns Zoltán Kocsis das Stück. Schon damals (und seitdem) frage ich den Komponisten:.