Piano Music by Jewish Composers

In the 19th century, a liberal Judaism developed in Western Europe, advocating the adoption of Western music in synagogal worship, in place of the traditional singing of the hazzan and his assistants, the meshorerim ^[1]assistants who support the hazzan‘s singing with various melodic devices (alternating voices, drone, improvisation, etc.). Among the singers, arrangers and composers of this new synagogue service were Salomon Sulzer in Vienna (from 1826), Hirsch Weintraub in Koenigsberg (1838), Louis Lewandowski in Berlin (1840) and Samuel Naumbourg in Paris (1845). These different singers composed prayer melodies in the tonal style, without however rejecting the old synagogal chants, which they endeavored to harmonize for soloist and choir, often accompanied by organ.

While we are relatively familiar with the liturgical works of these reformers, we are sometimes unaware that they also wrote pieces for piano or other instruments. Such is the case of the composers featured in this collection of scores compiled by the excellent duo of musicians: pianist Bella Kalinowsky and her husband, violist Semjon Kalinowsky, who have set themselves the task of reviving the often little-known piano repertoire of these Jewish composers.

The score includes the Rhapsodie hébraïque, Op. 34, by Louis Lewandowski (1821-1894), the Kol Nidrei by Joseph Sulzer (1850-1926)^[2]Joseph Sulzer was the son of Salomon Sulzer., the Kol Nidrei by Salomon Jadassohn (1831-1902) and the Jüdische Volkslieder by Joel Engel (1868-1922), published posthumously in Moscow in 1930, containing ten arrangements of Yiddish songs and dance tunes.

These piano works can be played both by professionals and experienced amateurs. So don’t miss out on this very interesting repertoire!

Order the score

More about the Kalinowsky duo

Consult other scores or CDs by the Kalinowsky duo on the IEMJ website