Louis Lewandowski: Jewish music Consolations Op. 44 pump reed organ

Описание: More about Performer, Artis Whodehouse: http://www.artiswodehouse.com/
Artis Wodehouse, live in performance 1/12/14 at Christ and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, NYC. She is playing the entire set of nine short pieces of Louis Lewandowski's (1821-1894) Consolations Op. 44 for organ.

Lewandowski was one of the pioneering German Jewish composers unleashed during the Jewish Emancipation which began in the 19th C. Jews, previously stateless were granted citizenship, although discrimination both covert and overt continued. Lewandowski as a boy was introduced to Felix Mendelssohn's first cousin, Alexander, and he helped the boy win permission to take the exam -- which he passed -- to enter the Royal Academy of the Arts in Berlin. Lewandowski initially aspired to the career pathway hewn by Felix Mendelssohn (composing secular art music), but decided instead to devote his career to writing liturgical music for the synagogue. He was one of the most important and influential composers of the 19th century in this genre.

The nine short pieces of Consolations Op. 44 are not liturgical music, but rather home music of a decidedly contemplative cast. Wodehouse plays on a vintage Yamaha foot pump reed organ because this little instrument has a startlingly expressive capability that is necessary for the realization of Lewandowski's scores. The date of her instrument is uncertain, but most likely was made by Yamaha in the 1950s. It was fully restored and tuned by Hans Herr in 2011. A little-known fact is that Yamaha originated in the late 19th C. as a manufacturer of reed organs. Pianos came in later, around WWI. Their reed organ production only ceased during the 1960s.

Wodehouse's performance was part of a concert presented by MELODEON entitled "The American Jewish Diaspora, Remembrance and Engagement". Lewandowski's music was performed in US synagogues during the 19th C. and influenced subsequent generations of Jewish-American composers.