TORN FIRMAMENT
Synagogue music by Jewish composers
from Germany, persecuted
or murdered in the Shoah
Louis Lewandowski Festival 2013
Introduction
The synagogue music of Jewish composers from Germany was profoundly influenced by the Shoah.
Many of these artists were persecuted or murdered, and some of their music was forgotten.
Persecution and loss
Under the Nazi regime, Jewish composers were systematically marginalized.
Their works were banned and they themselves were imprisoned or murdered.
The Shoah meant an enormous cultural loss, as many of these composers had made significant contributions to Jewish music.
Heritage and memory
Despite the persecution, the musical legacy of these composers remains of great importance.
Today, their works are an important part of our cultural memory and are increasingly being rediscovered and appreciated.
The artists 2013
The Synagogal Ensemble Berlin (SEB) combines the precision of classical concert singing with the vibrant tradition and deep spirituality of Jewish liturgical music. Founded in 2002 by conductor Regina Yantian, this professional vocal ensemble has become a fixture on the European cultural scene. It embodies a broad musical spectrum that makes Jewish sacred music accessible to a modern audience.
In the 14th year of the Louis Lewandowski Festival, for the first time only music by Oriental Jews will be heard, whose melodies, keys and choice of instruments are very much influenced by the musical culture of their Arab countries of origin in the Middle East and North Africa.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Ashkenazi region experienced an unparalleled musical boom, which was mainly triggered by organ building in the liberal synagogues of Central Europe.
A Jewish men's choir is first mentioned in Basel at the end of the 19th century - and again in 1903 - but then all trace of it is lost.
The Upper Galilee Choir was established in 1978 by Stanley Sperber and under his direction, a year later, performed Mendelssohn's Oratorio "Elijah" at the Musica Sacra Festival in Jerusalem.
Poland's only synagogal choir, under the direction of Stanisław M. Rybarczyk, was founded in 1996. At the beginning the choir consisted of students and music graduates of the Academy of Music in Wroclaw. Today only professional singers sing there.
