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Hello,

I recently entered a competition that aims to enlighten people of Jewish composers and compositions with Jewish themes. Seeing that the tuba literature is small, it is difficult to find a piece that was written by a Jewish composer that would be suitable for a competition.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a piece that was written by a Jewish composer or has a Jewish theme?

I am considering Mahler Lieder, but I do not think it would stand up against pianists, violinists, and other instrumental repertoire.

Thank you for your help!

-Mike

The NYC tuba trio THREE commissioned a work from composer David Snow. It's entitled "A Sheynem Dank Dir Im Pupik" and is based on Yiddish themes/modes (and has a "Jewish" sound).
It's a fantastic multi-movment work -- great chorales and some very technical and showy multi-meter dances. It is a very accessible work. We played it at ITEC in 2002.

The thing is that it is written for three tubas -- but is appropriate for recital/competition.

Robert Wilkinson wrote/arranged a whole series of "Klezmer Tuba" quartets.

FWIW, I don't know if Wilkinson is Jewish.

Michael Roest wrote:Hello,

I am considering Mahler Lieder, but I do not think it would stand up against pianists, violinists, and other instrumental repertoire.

-Mike

This is some of the best music I have ever performed. If you do the Songs of a Wayfarer, check out a variety of vocal recordings. A strongly expressive pianist is needed to pull these off.

This is not flashy instrumental music, but is deep and rewarding if you really go for nuance, color and variety in articulation (mimicking the text).

A bright and focused tone helps Mahler's songs when done on tuba. Too dark and this music becomes dull and muddy.

Come to think of it, it's time I brought these out for another recital . . .

It's a wide field. Are you looking for sacred or secular? Russian? Mediterranean? Yiddish?

During the early part of the 20th century, parts of the US, mostly eastern, were witness to an entirely Yiddish vaudeville circuit.

Bernstein, as mentioned, also wrote a number of things using traditional melodies and Hebrew texts.

http://savethemusic.com/yiddish/
http://www.haruth.com/YiddishMusic.html

Just a couple resources.

Also, look into the music of Ernst Bloch, like Kol Nidre for cello and piano. Be warned; it's a heavy piece that is not "performed"- it is felt, it is sung, it moves, but it is definitely not "played." And it is a melody known to anyone Jewish.

Mitch wrote:...look into the music of Ernst Bloch, like Kol Nidre for cello and piano. Be warned; it's a heavy piece that is not "performed"- it is felt, it is sung, it moves, but it is definitely not "played." And it is a melody known to anyone Jewish.

Ernst Bloch wrote a lot of music of Jewish derivation. But the Kol Nidre for cello and piano was composed by Max Bruch who, ironically, was not Jewish.

Another piece for tuba by a Jewish composer:

Tuba Suite for Solo Tuba and Three French Horns by Morton Gould

Steve's right. It was late...

I was thinking of Bloch's "Schelomo-A Hewbrew Rhapsody" for cello as well as Bruch's "Kol Nidre," and a new, nonexistent piece was born (Bloch's "Kol Nidre").

It might be worth it to try to find the published music of Zavel Zilberts. I know some of his music was recorded for cello and piano (Richard Locker, cello).

Yehezkel Brown Sonata (Jewish Composer)
Josef Tal Sonata (Jewish Composer)
and if you need some other jewish themes you can contact me via PM

The Gershwin 2nd piano prelude works beautifully in concert if you can handle the piano left hand. To see how it's done, check here:
http://www.elinewberger.com/video.html#Gershwin

Mitch wrote:Kol Nidre for cello and piano. Be warned; it's a heavy piece that is not "performed"- it is felt, it is sung, it moves, but it is definitely not "played." And it is a melody known to anyone Jewish.

Mitch's suggestion is excellent; it certainly meets your criterion of "music with Jewish themes." It is a gorgeous piece of music on cello or on tuba. I'm surprised that it hasn't appeared on any commercial tuba solo recordings. Mitch's description of how to perform it is very well expressed.

Steve Marcus wrote:
It is a gorgeous piece of music on cello or on tuba. I'm surprised that it hasn't appeared on any commercial tuba solo recordings.

Steve has a great point; of all music co-opted by tubists for a good melody, I'm also surprised "Kol Nidre" hasn't been. I'm not sure whether it's due to a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. It ties in to Yom Kippur and the High Holy Days, the most sacred time in the Jewish year. It's been said of this piece (I'm paraphrasing), "If G-d were to cry, this is the sound his tears would make as they fell to earth." However, Bruch, as Steve pointed out, was not Jewish. The piece has been described as a concerto that happens to have a Jewish theme. Bruch counted among his friends a Cantor Lichtenstein in Berlin, who is credited with exposing Bruch to the melody. Bruch included his experience with Jewish melodies as part of a continuing study of folk song. To Jews, the melody has great significance. But it's a beautiful piece of music on its own. Not only would it meet your criteria, but it's a piece that would be well received of its own merit.

Here's another suggestion:

Psalm by David Diamond is an orchestral piece that begins with a prominent tuba solo.