Paul Ben-Haim, born Paul Frankenburger, was a German-Jewish composer whose life was transformed by Hitler's rise to power, leading him to emigrate to Palestine in 1933.
Composition History
The Piano Quartet, Op. 4, completed in 1921, is a premiere recording on this album, as it had not been played since a 1932 broadcast until the ARC Ensemble performed it in 2012.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ben-Haim quickly embraced his new life in Palestine, integrating Levantine, Sephardic, and cantorial music into his essentially Central European musical language.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded using 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Cultural Impact
Ben-Haim made significant cultural contributions to his adoptive country, Palestine (later Israel), including playing a formative role in integrating music into the education system and establishing a national musicians' union.
Performer Biography
The ARC Ensemble (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) is a Canadian group dedicated to unearthing neglected repertoire, particularly music by émigré composers of the 1930s.
Compositional Technique
In his Clarinet Quintet, Op. 31a, Ben-Haim combined European thematic transformation with local elements like modal arcs, ornamentation, and percussive syncopation to create a new style.
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