Shir Ami (Song of Our People): Jewish Composers Program

In addition to three works by our beloved local composer, Colorado College professor Ofer Ben-Amots, we will be treated to rarely heard works by three other Jewish composers.

Please read about these most fascinating composers below, as well as the glowing performer bios. The Ben-Amots works include the powerful, meditative “Akeda” (2000) for piano, the recent “Bulgariana” for violin/piano (2016) – both haunting and propelling, and hot-off-the-press, “Nigun and Hora” (2019). Be the first to hear this latter work, another Ben-Amots masterpiece. Our listeners always come away moved  by each Ben-Amots work we have programmed.

Additional works from the following composers will be presented:

Fredrick Kaufman, former music department head at Florida International University, has received rave reviews from the New York Times and his works have been performed by leading orchestras and ensembles worldwide.

Composers Gideon Klein and Erwin Schulhoff both perished in Nazi concentration camps. Klein was one of the leading musicians at the Terezin concentration camp, a camp that allowed music per the Nazi propaganda portraying prisoners as being well-treated. Schulhoff was a highly respected composer, praised by Dvorak and others, and his brilliant, colorful, major work, Duo (1925) for violin and cello is a tour de force to witness.

This is a one-time event to surely attend.

A “Meet the Artists” reception will take place after the concert and is included with admission.

Food will be provided by caterer and temple member, Steve Cohen, and will include bagels and lox, smoked salmon salad, cheeses, hummus, fruit, spinach dip, coffee, tea, and lemonade.

Program:

• Duo for Violin and Cello (1941)
  Gideon Klein (1919 – 1945)
• Inner Sanctum for Solo Cello (1999)
  Fredrick Kaufman  (b. 1936)
• Nigun and Hora for Cello and Piano (2019)
  Ofer Ben-Amots (b. 1955)
• Bulgariana for Violin and Piano (2016)
  Ofer Ben-Amots
• Short Intermission
• Akëda for Solo Piano
  Ofer Ben-Amots
• Duo for Violin and Cello (1925)
  Erwin Schulhoff (1894 – 1942)

Classically Alive features diverse monthly house concerts, which include food, drink, and time for guests to socialize, and mingle with the musicians. At the venue, founder, director, and pianist, Dr. Abe Minzer performs along with many top musicians of the Pikes Peak region. Additionally, Classically Alive hosts world-class visiting artists of national and international reputation, often as part of the Piano Masterworks series and through collaboration with the German arts organization, Weltklassik.

Since its inception in 2006, Classically Alive has presented over 150 concerts featuring over 100 musicians. The eclectic offerings include a wide range of classical, as well as contemporary, popular styles, jazz, and world music.