Kol Nidrei (Solo für Cello und Blasorchester) Max Bruch / Arr. Siegmund Goldhammer

Max Bruch left behind a vast and significant body of work. Nevertheless, today the public is primarily familiar with his Violin Concerto No. 1, which has become part of every violinist's standard repertoire. The overwhelming success of this piece led to repeated requests from renowned cellists for him to write a cello concerto as well. His friend, cellist Robert Hausmann, inspired the composer in 1880 to create Kol Nidrei for cello and orchestra. Bruch himself wrote about the piece: This work is a small counterpart to my Scottish Fantasy, as it, like that work, expands a given melodic idea in an artistic way.

The piece is based on two Hebrew melodies, giving it both a plaintive and hymn-like character. Bruch first incorporates an old penitential prayer, traditionally sung at the start of the holiest Jewish festival, Yom Kippur. As a second theme, he uses the Anglo-Jewish song Oh Weep for Those that Wept on Babel's Stream, which he likely came to know during his time in Liverpool through the local Jewish community. Bruch created five arrangements of Kol Nidrei for different instrumentations, demonstrating the exceptional popularity of the piece.

The warm, dark sound of the cello beautifully reflects the deeply solemn, mournful, and jubilant tones of synagogue chant. The work radiates the humility of the Jewish faith. In Siegmund Goldhammer's arrangement for cello and wind orchestra, this piece becomes a valuable enrichment to the symphonic wind repertoire.

Release date: 2024 / 2006