Lewandowski: 18 Liturgical Psalms

Featuring

Lúcia Megyesi-Schwartz
Rózsa Kiss
Viola Thurnay
Gábor Pivarcsi
Szabolcs Hámori
Márton Levente Horváth

Andor Izsák
Hungarian Radio Children's Choir
Louis Lewandowski

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Recording & Production

This album is the world-premiere recording of Lewandowski's 'Eighteen Liturgical Psalms', made in Hungarian Radio's Studio 6 in Budapest, known for its inimitable acoustics.

Composer Biography

Louis Lewandowski, a German-Jewish composer and conductor, was the first Jewish musician to enroll at Berlin's Academy of Arts.

Historical Context

The use of an organ in a synagogue was controversial, leading to the 'Organ Dispute' and the emergence of Liberal Judaism, as instrumental music had been banned after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Lewandowski reformed Jewish synagogue services by combining classical Western music with traditional synagogue singing and restoring the organ's role.

Compositional Technique

Lewandowski's scores for his sacred works, including these Psalms, always included the note 'With or without organ accompaniment' to allow congregations to decide on instrumentation.

Composition History

The 'Eighteen Liturgical Psalms' were dedicated to King Ludwig II of Bavaria and were considered provocative for their scoring for soloists, chorus, and organ, and for using a German translation of the Psalms.