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ALBERTO HEMSI
Chamber Works
premiere recordings
Danze nuziali greche, Op.37 bis
10:14
(Danses nuptiales grecques)
(Greek Nupital Dances)
for Cello and Piano
after an original work for solo piano, Op.37 (c.1953)
1.
I
In onore della 'petherà' (suocera) (In Honour of the Mother-in-law).
3:24
2.
II
In onore della ''nymphi'' (sposa) (In Honour of the Bride).
3:26
3.
III
In onore del ''cumbaro'' (compare) (In Honour of the Godfather).
3:19
Tre arie antiche (dalle 'Coplas Sefardies'), Op.30 *
9:01
(Three Ancient Airs, from the Coplas Sefardies) for String Quartet
À Mme Ethel & Frank Cohen
4.
I
Ballata. Grave e sonoro - Allegretto -
2:27
5.
II
Canzone. Calmo e nostalgico - [ ] - Tempo I
3:29
6.
III
Rondò. Allegro - Allegretto - Poco più mosso -
2:58
Pilpúl Sonata, Op.27 ‡
19:39
for Violin and Piano
7.
I
Allegretto comodo - Poco meno - Tempo I - Poco meno -
8:27
8.
II
Larghetto meditativo
5:03
9.
III
Allegretto rapsodico
6:04
Quintet, Op.28 *dann
17:46
in G Major • in G-Dur • en sol majeur
for Viola and String Quartet
À Ödön Pártos
10.
I
Concertino. Allegretto con brio - Poco meno - Tempo I
4:55
11.
II
Burlesca. Allegretto spiritoso - [Fine] -
5:35
12.
III
Berceuse. (Quaver = 104 - 108) - Poco animato - Tempo I
4:34
13.
IV
Rondò. (Crotchet = 132 - 138) - Poco più animato
2:33
14.
Méditation, Op.16
6:42
(dans le style arménien)
(in Armenian style)
for Cello and Piano
Per Edgardo Maria Brunetti
Grave, ad libitum - [ ] - Tempo I - Andante - Poco più animato -
Total time: 62:56
Chamber: ARC Ensemble
Erika Raum violin
Marie Bérard violin
Emily Kruspe violin ‡
Steven Dann viola *
Julien Altmann viola
Tom Wiebe cello
Kevin Ahfat piano
21 and 22 December 2021 & 15 and 16 February 2022
Notes
Alberto Hemsi was born in 1898 in Turgutlu (also known as Cassaba), in Anatolia (present-day Turkey). Although there had been a Jewish presence in Anatolia for more than 2000 years, the population expanded considerably following the Alhambra Decree of 1492, with the arrival of Sephardim from Spain and Portugal. It then dwindled precipitously with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of Nazism, the creation of the state of Israel, and the escalation of anti-Semitism in the Arab world. Having completed his training at the conservatory in Milan, Hemsi returned to Anatolia determined to collect and notate as much traditional Sephardic music as he possibly could. A fascination with national folk music had taken root throughout Europe – Bartók and Kodály in Hungary, Dvorák and Smetana in Bohemia, and Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst in England being the most familiar examples. Because his research was not defined by political or geographical boundaries, Hemsi was compelled to survey the myriad communities spread throughout the vast Sephardic diaspora. He was as fascinated by this musical heritage as he was concerned about its survival but, like so many composers, he also understood how traditional melodies, together with the various performance styles and conventions that supported them, could provide inspiration and nourishment for his own music.
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Reviews
“… This disc is the latest of Chandos’s Music in Exile series featuring the Toronto-based ARC Ensemble – and it stands up well to its distinguished predecessors. Warmly welcomed.”
Peter J Rabinowitz – Fanfare – March/April 2023
“… This is a recording to treasure.” *****
Andrea Rush – myscena.org – 18 February 2023
“…Once again, Toronto’s splendid ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory) has redeemed a deserving composer from unwarranted “exile” in this important ongoing series.”
Michael Schulman – thewholenote.com – 13 December 2022
“This is a fascinating program, chronicling a most unusual life…”
Michelle Thomson – American Record Guide – January/February 2023
“… As always with this ensemble, performances could hardly be bettered in terms of execution and commitment, abetted by clear and spacious sound… sure to provide instructive pleasure.”
Richard Whitehouse – Gramophone magazine – December 2022
Performance **** Recording *****
“… the works on this disc reflect the composer’s lifelong fascination for Sephardic folk music which he assiduously collected and transcribed, as well as a keen absorption of other exotic idioms. The net result is a sequence of attractive and atmospheric works …”
Erik Levi – BBC Music Christmas magazine – Christmas 2022
**** Excellent Album
Thomas Deschamps – Classica magazine (France) – December 2022-January 2023
“… This is another fine reclamation from the ARC Ensemble … all of whom play with considerable enthusiasm and technical accomplishment.”
Jonathan Woolf – MusicWeb-International.com – 2 November 2022
"A striking journey into a Sephardic world."
Carlos María Solare – The Strad – November 2022
“…It’s another excellently carried through and enterprising disc from Chandos. The standards for such unusual music, appearing on disc for the first time, are high; not to be taken for granted.”
Rob Barnett – MusicWeb-International.com – 14 October 2022
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