Ernest Bloch: Music For Cello And Piano: Cello: Instrumental Album

A fabulous work of chamber music by Swiss composer Ernest Bloch completed in 1924. At its heart Bloch's Jewish music is emotional expressionist and despite a slow sombre mood is coloured by an exotic ambience which reflects his increasingly Jewish voice. For Cello with Piano accompaniment Prayer has an atmosphere of intense sadness and inward feeling and the three pieces here are far less linked with virtuosity than with the power of expression and faith.

Study Score No. 146-This composition was inspired and originally titled according to a romantic vision of the Far East (which Ernest Bloch had never visited). At one time the suite had a set of descriptive titles which begun with In the Jungle (Life in the Primitive World)- at attempt to portray Nature in its wildest and most primitive state. The second movement was known as 'Grotesque (Simian Stage)' - it is sardonic and fantastic. The third movement was was inspired by the tales of a close friend about a night-time journey through Javanese villages from which could be heard the distant sound of wooden musical instruments. The finale originally Land of the Sun (China) was Bloch said the most cheerful thing I ever wrote. It is based on pentatonic motives (like a common Chinese scale) and also recalls music from the other movements.This is the full score of this work.

Study Score No. 63-Bloch was 73 years old when the String Quartet No. 3 was premiered in 1953 by the Griller Quartet. It is far more 'pared-down' than his earlier works and avoids the influence of Jewish music which he was well-known for in works such as 'Schelomo' and the 'Suite Hebraique for viola'. The first movement is forceful; trills and stark rhythms predominate whereas the second is more tranquil. Next there is is a strange kind of off-kilter scherzo followed by a finale based on a 12-tone theme. This is the Schirmer edition of the Score.

Score and Parts-Bloch was 73 years old when the String Quartet No. 3 was premiered in 1953 by the Griller Quartet. It is far more 'pared-down' than his earlier works and avoids the influence of Jewish music which he was well-known for in workssuch as 'Schelomo' and the 'Suite Hebraique for viola'. The first movement is forceful; trills and stark rhythms predominate whereas the second is more tranquil. Next there is is a strange kind of off-kilter scherzo followed by a finale based on a 12-tone theme. This is the Schirmer edition and contains the Score and Parts.