Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Yom Kippur

Dvořák’s New World Symphony Goes Home for Yom Kippur

Everyone knows the “New World” Symphony, right? You know, THE musical blueprint laid out by Antonin Dvořák, through which, as an outside observer, while visiting director of the National Conservatory in New York, he hoped to reveal to American artists the raw material on which could be built a uniquely national identity. In particular, Dvořák found fascination in African-American spirituals and Native American dances.

Except on today’s Noontime Concert on The Classical Network, the “New World” is goin’ home. In an interesting feat of cross-fertilization, the Alba Consort will weave iconic themes from Dvořák’s most famous symphony into a program of early Sephardic, Iberian, French, Italian, Cypriot, Armenian, and North African music.

The imaginative and revelatory venture is Alba’s response to an invitation from the New York Philharmonic as part of the orchestra’s “New World Initiative,” which encouraged fresh perspectives on the “New World” Symphony. The result is like the discovery of a lost bridge from the Old Country to a brave New World.

The concert was made possible in part by Gotham Early Music Scene, or GEMS, one of its free lunchtime offerings presented on Thursdays at 1:15 p.m, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, 50th Street and Park Avenue, in Midtown Manhattan.

GEMS is a non-profit corporation that supports and promotes artists and organizations in New York City devoted to Early Music – music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods. For more information on its upcoming midday concerts and other GEMS’ events, look online at gemsny.org.

Then stick around for more music reflective of a journey from the Old World to the New – with works by Dvořák and his colleague at the National Conservatory, Victor Herbert – and some musical presentiments of Yom Kippur.

The holiest day on the Jewish calendar begins at sunset. Get ready to mark the occasion with, among others, Enest Bloch’s moving “Israel Symphony,” Joseph Joachim’s “Hebrew Melodies,” David Stock’s “Yizkor,” and Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek’s set of unpredictable variations on “Kol Nidre.”

We’ll sail the ocean blue and set the tone for atonement, between 12 and 4 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

“Yom Kippur” (1969), by Chaim Gross

September 18, 2018
Yom Kippur Music on WPRB

Yom Kippur begins on Friday evening. The holiest day of the Jewish calendar caps ten Days of Awe and Repentance, which began with the Jewish New Year on Rosh Hashanah. This Thursday morning on WPRB, we’ll mark the Jewish High Holy Days with a full playlist of music on Jewish themes.

We’ll begin with some evocations of the shofar, in Aaron Minsky’s “Judaic Concert Suite” and David Stock’s “Tekiah,” then progress through several arrangements of the Yom Kippur prayer Kol Nidre — by Jacob Weinberg, Arnold Schoenberg, Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek (of “Donna Diana Overture” fame), and of course Max Bruch — and arrive finally at Thomas Beveridge’s “Yizkor Requiem,” which beautifully consolidates the Jewish and Catholic liturgies for the dead. Along the way, there will be a symphony, some dances, and even a collection of tone portraits of the stained glass windows of Abell Syagogue at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, which depict the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

If you’re looking for music for the High Holidays, I’m your goy, this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Wishing you a sweet and happy 5778, on Classic Ross Amico.

September 28, 2017
Yom Kippur Music This Week on WPRB

Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, will commence this Friday at sundown. We anticipate the Day of Atonement and mark the ten Days of Awe and Repentance that began on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with our annual show devoted to the Jewish High Holidays.

This Thursday morning on WPRB, we’ll hear plentiful music on Jewish themes, a piece or two evocative of the shofar, and of course multiple renderings of the prayer “Kol Nidre,” which is recited in the synagogue before the Yom Kippur evening service.

A highlight of the morning will be the “Yizkor Requiem” by Thomas Beveridge, who attempts to bridge Jewish and Christian traditions by paying tribute to the Hebraic roots of the Roman Catholic liturgy.

That’s music for the Days of Awe, this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. The results will be predictably awesome, on Classic Ross Amico.

September 27, 2017
Yom Kippur Eve Music on WWFM

Today is the eve of Yom Kippur. The holiest day on the Jewish calendar begins at sunset. Join me this afternoon for Enest Bloch’s moving “Israel Symphony,” David Stock’s “Yizkor,” and a setting of “Kol Nidre.” They’ll be part of the usual mix, between noon and 4 EDT on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

October 11, 2016
Jewish High Holy Days Music on WPRB

Already three days into the Jewish New Year, and all I can think to say is, “Shofar, so good.” If a blast on the ram’s horn sends you into ecstasies, have I got a show for you!

Tomorrow morning on WPRB, there will be shofars aplenty, as we listen to music by Jewish composers and/or on Jewish themes, in honor of the High Holy Days.

There will be works by composers such as Paul Ben-Haim, Herman Berlinski, Ernest Bloch, John Duffy, Lukas Foss, Louis Gesensway, John McCabe, Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek, Arnold Schoenberg, Paul Schoenfield, David Stock and Jacob Weinberg.

We’ll also uphold an annual WPRB tradition, initiated by Teri Noel Towe, of listening to Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei.”

A number of these composers aren’t even Jewish – and a few of the pieces aren’t particularly “Jewish” sounding – but all of them pay tribute to the creativity and soulfulness of the Jewish experience.

That’s music for the Days of Awe – the period from Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) through Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) – tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. The playlist will be totally Awesome, on Classic Ross Amico.

October 5, 2016

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