ALKAN'S LOST SYMPHONY
On the first manuscript page of Alkan's lost and never-performed Symphony, Hebrew letters in red ink proclaimed: "And God said let there be light. And there was light".
CELLO SONATA DE CONCERT OP 47
Adagio prefaced with Micah 5:7: "As dew from the Lord how the Jewish people endure, awaiting help from God alone". (Seems inspired by Jewish sacred music).
PRELUDES OP 31
No 4 - Priere du soir
No 5 - Psalm 150 Praise God in His Holiness
No 6 - Old synagogue melody (Cantor's chant) Robust Jewish Schmalz.
No 19 - Priere du matin
No 20 - Very Hassidic
No 25 - Priere
LE FESTIN D'ESOP OP 39 #12
Main theme is Hassidic
ALLELUIA OP 25
SUPER FLUMINA BABYLONIS PSALM 137 OP 52
A paraphrase on the Jewish captivity in Babylon.
Lachrymosa adagio: "By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof, for there, they that carried us away captive required of us a song, and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"
Song of Zion: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."
Finale - burning with rage: "Remember O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundations thereof. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Blessed be he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stone."
TREIZE PRIERES OP 64
Hebraic character No 8 is called Deus Sebaoth [God of armies - ("Tzvaot")]
ESQUISSES OP 63 No 49
Priere - Laus Deo (Praise the Lord)
ETZ CHAJJIM
For Naumbourg's 1st vol (1847) of Jewish hymnals 4-part choir. Sung on returning the Torah to the Ark. From Proverbs III 17 & 18: "It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall return: renew our days as of old!"
HALELOUYAH
For Naumbourg's (The Paris Principle Cantor) 3rd vol (1857) of Jewish hymnals. Setting of psalm 150 for mixed voices plus pno or organ. "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary...praise him with the blast of the horn..Praise him with the harp and the lyre... Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
STRING TRIO OP 30
Second movt - Scherzo. Full of Hebraic Fervour.
TROIS ANCIENNES MELODIES JUIVES (Unpublished manuscripts fr the Geneva Conservatoire)
Written for distinguished music student - Zina de Mansouroff: Settings of passages of the scriptures relevant to every Jewish festivity. Alkan gives detailed instructions about chanting and pronouncing the Hebrew texts. Francois Lugeunot says these are "pregnant with emotion and of great spiritual beauty."
Melody #1 - Chant du nouvel an.
Melody #2 - Consolation and expectation of recovery - Consolation et esperance.
Melody #3 - For 3 hands or pedal piano, "When Israel came out of Egypt"
DEUXIEME VERSET DU 41e PSAUME for voice and Piano
Central melody for voice flanked by a keyboard prelude and postlude. Francoise Lugeunot: "Time seems to stand still"
"In these personal works...Alkan expresses his religious faith with a deep conviction and a degree of simplicity..."