Alberto Hemsi was a pioneer in ethnomusicology, being the first musician to ethnologically and artistically engage with the music of Sephardic Jews.
Composition History
Alberto Hemsi's monumental cycle Coplas sefardies, consisting of 60 compositions for voice and piano based on Sephardic songs, was published in ten volumes over several decades.
Critical Reception
Alberto Hemsi's work, including his Coplas sefardies, was largely forgotten after his death in 1975, and this album is part of the first complete recording to help rediscover it.
Historical Context
The publication of Alberto Hemsi's Coplas sefardies was interrupted by tragic historical events, including the destruction of Sephardic communities by the Nazis and the deterioration of Jewish life in Arab countries.
Composer Biography
Alberto Hemsi (1898-1975) was born in the Ottoman Empire to a Jewish family with Italian citizenship, which later led to his conscription into the Italian army.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Alberto Hemsi aimed to make folk songs accessible to a wider audience by combining authentic popular elements with sophisticated piano accompaniment, creating a fusion of folk and art music.
Composer Biography
Alberto Hemsi's planned career as a concert pianist was cut short after he suffered a severe arm injury while serving in the Italian army in 1917.
