Samuel Adler: Symphony No. 5 "We Are the Echoes"; Nuptial Scene; The Binding (Milken Archive of American Jewish Music)

Gideon Dabi (Performer), Raphael Frieder (Performer), Ted Christopher (Performer), Samuel Adler (Composer), Patrick Gardner (Conductor), Samuel Adler (Conductor), Eastman Players (Performer), Heather Johnson (Performer), Margaret Bishop (Performer), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) (Orchestra), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava (Orchestra), Barbara Harbach (Performer), Pen Ying Fang (Performer), Freda Herseth (Performer), Helen Kruszewski (Performer), Mary Ellen Callahan (Performer), Phyllis Bryn-Julson (Performer), Joseph Evans (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Gideon Dabi, Raphael Frieder, Ted Christopher, Eastman Players, Heather Johnson, et al.
• Orchestra: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava
• Conductor: Patrick Gardner, Samuel Adler
• Composer: Samuel Adler
• Audio CD (March 16, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Milken Archive
• ASIN: B0001FR0LG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #467,199 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Soloists, Glorious Sonics, Varied Compositions . ., July 12, 2004

By 

J. T Waldmann "yaakov98" (Carmel, IN, home to the fabulous new Regional Performing Arts Center.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samuel Adler: Symphony No. 5 "We Are the Echoes"; Nuptial Scene; The Binding (Milken Archive of American Jewish Music) (Audio CD)

This disc is a hard one to review. It might possibly receive 5 stars from someone who is more attuned than I am to some of the selections on this recording. At any rate, it deserves 5 stars for the performances and for the sonics, but I can only give it 4 because I couldn't relate to half of the program.

There's no denying that Samuel Adler is one of the champions of contemporary American music, both Jewish and otherwise. His father was was a highly respected cantor and composer in pre-war Mannheim, and in 1939 the Adler family came to the US because of the persecution of the Jews of Europe. Adler studied composition with Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Walter Piston and Randall Thompson and studied conducting with Serge Koussevitzky. His compositions and his awards are many. Amazon.com lists a dozen or so recordings featuring his works.

My favorite selection on this recording is FIVE SEPHARDIC CHORUSES for six soloists, mixed choir and piano accompaniment. They are cheery, upbeat, joyful, and in my opinion should be included in the repertoire of professional and collegiate choruses everywhere. I'd enjoy singing them if I were a chorus member.

It's unfortunate that only a few Reform synagogues have the resources to perform large-scale works such as Adler's High Holy Day suite "Hinei Yom Hadin" and "Shiru Ladonai," his complete Sabbath evening service. And since we don't have complete recordings of those works, these SELECTED LITURGICAL WORKS will have to suffice. Masterfully performed by the Rochester Singers and Cantors Alberto Mizrahi and Roslyn Jhunever Barak (gorgeous voice), and organist Barbara Harbach. The composer conducts. Lovely music, beautiful singing. Worth the price of this disc.

The rest of the pieces on the disc - NUPTIAL SCENE, EXCERPTS FROM THE BINDING, and SYMPHONY NO. 5: WE ARE ECHOES - fail to engage me emotionally. Nevertheless, I can, and do, appreciate the craftsmanship of the composer and the artistry of the performers. Listening to soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson navigate the impossibly difficult vocal part on Symphony No. 5 is an "awesome" experience. (". . . the purity of her voice, a three-octave range, and perfect pitch have made her internationally renowned as an interpreter of 20th century music.") However, I need music that appeals to my emotions as well as to my intellect, so I don't think I'll be listening to these three pieces with any regularity in the future. You, however, may feel differently.

Music lovers should be grateful to Milken Archive not only for exposing us to new music and to little-known composers, but also for giving us the opportunity to hear so many excellent musicians. This disc alone features twelve outstanding soloists as well as the Kirkpatrick Choir of Rutgers University, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, and The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. All are worthy of our praise and appreciation, as are Lowell Milken and Neil W. Levin of the Milken Archive. I sincerely hope this series is a huge financial AND artistic success.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The male soloist in Ein Keloheinu, April 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Samuel Adler: Symphony No. 5 "We Are the Echoes"; Nuptial Scene; The Binding (Milken Archive of American Jewish Music) (Audio CD)

WOW! The male soloist in Ein Keloheinu is amazing!!! If for no other reason, pick up the CD just to listen to his beautiful voice!!!