Lori Laitman

Compositor

Lori Laitman

Lírico

Anne Ranasinghe, David Vogel, Karen Gershon, Jerzy Ficowski, Tadeusz Różewicz

tradutor

Keith Bosley, Krystyna Wandycz, A.C. Jacobs, Adam Czerniawski

Gênero

Clássico / Canção

Instrumentação

Contrabaixo, Mezzo-soprano

Composição para

Dueto

Tipo de composição

Score for two performers

movimento(s)

1 para 7 de 7

duração

30'0"

idioma

Inglês

dificuldade

Very difficult

Ano de composição

2000

descripção
Holocaust 1944 (2000) was composed for baritone Sanford Sylvan and double bassist Gary Karr. It was Sandy who, after hearing my first Holocaust themed song cycle, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, suggested I compose another work for voice and solo instrument. As I had planned for many years to compose a piece for Gary (who had been my husband’s bass teacher), the idea to compose a piece for Gary and Sandy came into focus and I decided to write a second Holocaust themed work, choosing poetry with a darker tone that was suited to the darker timbres of a baritone voice and a double bass.

The seven poems I used in this cycle were chosen from the book, Holocaust Poetry, edited by Hilda Schiff and published by St. Martin's Griffin in New York. The texts are by Jerzy Ficowski (Poland), David Vogel (Russia), Tadeusz Różewicz (Poland), Karen Gershon (England) and Anne Ranasinghe (Sri Lanka).

The Holocaust was the defining moment in the lives of these five writers. Their poems allow us to identify with their collective experience, making the horror of the Holocaust seem immediate and real. Their works teach the lesson of the Holocaust to a new generation, heroically declaring "Never again."

There are 2 wonderful recordings, both available on Spotify: One of on “Dreaming — Songs of Lori Laitman” (Albany) with baritone William Sharp and double bassist Gary Karr; and the other is Holocaust 1944 (Acis) with baritone Dashon Burton and double bassist Logan Coale.

data de postagem

05.09.2023