Paul Ben-Haim: Music for Strings

Featuring

Gabriel Adorján
Bettina Aust
Christine Steinbrecher
Talia Or
Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie
Paul Ben-Haim

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Ben-Haim developed a personal style that blended West European 'art music' with Oriental influences, integrating Jewish and Arabic elements into his compositions after moving to Palestine.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Ben-Haim referred to his Three Songs Without Words as 'tone paintings in an Oriental atmosphere,' aiming to enhance their musical essence through various artistic means.

Performer Biography

The bayerische kammerphilharmonie, the orchestra on this album, is known for performing without a conductor and has a long-standing commitment to featuring music by forgotten Jewish composers.

Composition History

The Concerto for Strings contains direct allusions to Ben-Haim's time in Germany, including a musical motif from his oratorio Joram, which he considered his magnum opus.

Composer Biography

Paul Ben-Haim, born Paul Frankenburger in Munich, fled Nazi persecution in 1933 due to his Jewish heritage and settled in Palestine, changing his surname to Ben-Haim ('Son of Henry').

Composition History

The Three Songs Without Words resulted from Ben-Haim's collaboration with Yemenite Jewish singer Bracha Zefira, who introduced him to a wide range of Middle Eastern folklore.

Compositional Technique

In the Concerto for Strings, Ben-Haim praised the string orchestra as 'the most noble among all instruments' and explored its full expressive range, contrasting polyphonic and unison passages, and solo and full orchestra sections.