Beautiful Rendition of Kaddish (Maurice Ravel)
A newly released clip by KC Nusach, just beautiful. Below the text, there are a number of clips from other cantors singing this composition.
Okonsar.com
Maurice Ravel has composed one of the most beautiful Jewish music of all times. The mourning songs Kaddish (Two Hebrew melodies) with their minimal piano accompaniment, declamatory (often close to a recitativo) style and long melismas bringing the climax there is no doubt that Ravel has listened to some Synagogue music and cantors.
Actually the name “Kaddish” is the title of the first of those two songs which form a cycle named Deux Mélodies Hébraïques. The lyrics of the first song Kaddish are in Aramaic and come from a Jewish prayer book. The second of those songs, called L’Ãnigme Ãternelle is based on a Yiddish verse.
They were first performed in June 1914 by Alvina Alvi (who commissioned them) with Ravel at the piano. Ravel orchestrated the songs in 1919-1920.
Okonsar.com
Maurice Ravel has composed one of the most beautiful Jewish music of all times. The mourning songs Kaddish (Two Hebrew melodies) with their minimal piano accompaniment, declamatory (often close to a recitativo) style and long melismas bringing the climax there is no doubt that Ravel has listened to some Synagogue music and cantors.
Actually the name “Kaddish” is the title of the first of those two songs which form a cycle named Deux Mélodies Hébraïques. The lyrics of the first song Kaddish are in Aramaic and come from a Jewish prayer book. The second of those songs, called L’Ãnigme Ãternelle is based on a Yiddish verse.
They were first performed in June 1914 by Alvina Alvi (who commissioned them) with Ravel at the piano. Ravel orchestrated the songs in 1919-1920.
Cantor Azi Schwartz of New York
Yehudi Menhuin – an American-born violinist and conductor, widely considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.
An instrumental version:
