Classical Music | Violin Music

Ernest Bloch

Vidui, from Baal Shem  Play

Jessica Mathaes Violin
Heidi Louise Williams Piano

Recorded on 10/29/2014, uploaded on 04/18/2015

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Selections from Baal Shem (Three Pictures of Hassidic Life     Bloch

Ernest Bloch was born in Switzerland, but moved to the USA in 1916, and became an American citizen in 1924. He held teaching positions in Cleveland, San Francisco, and Berkeley. His early works showed the influences of Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy, but he is best known for his works that reflect his Jewish heritage.

Bloch's Baal Shem Suite is composed of three miniatures based on Hassidic subjects. The first two of these are being played today. Vidui (Contrition) is a heartfelt confession, a step in the process of atonement during which one admits to committing a sin before God. The word Nigun (Tune) signifies an improvisatory chant that is sung without words, such as can be heard in Orthodox synagogues. This is deeply felt, reverent music, and the violin’s expressive qualities well serve the composer's strongly Judaic idiom.         Jessica Mathaes