Search - John Zorn :: Filmworks XI - 2002 Volume One Secret Lives (Featuring the Masada String Trio)

Another CD of classy Jewish jazz

SPM | Eugene, Oregon | 09/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This one is a little boring for a hardcore Zorn fan, but it's a great place to start if you are a Zorn virgin. So it's hard to rate. Let's say it's three-and-a-half stars for me, five stars for you. If you haven't heard Zorn before and you don't think you'll like his noisy, chaotic music, pick this one up. It's peaceful and dramatic, with LOTS of strings.If you like BAR KOKHBA and THE CIRCLE MAKER, you'll *love* this.I should also mention that the packaging is very good. Zorn and the filmmakers have a pair of brief essays about the music and the film."

Masada String Trio in a number of settings.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 01/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Zorn's soundtrack work in the past decade and particularly the past few years has been dominated by Jewish subjects-- unsurprising given his place in "Radical Jewish Culture" music and the Masada songbook, having dominated his work since the mid-90s. "Filmworks XI", erroneously titled "Under the Wing" (including on the label's website) is the soundtrack for the documentary "Secret Lives", about Jewish children hidden during the Holocaust. For the film, Zorn assembled the Masada String Trio-- Mark Feldman on violin, Erik Friedlander on cello and Greg Cohen on bass, augmenting them by vocalist Vanessa Saft on two tracks and pianist Jamie Saft on one, for a mix of Masada and other pieces.



The soundtrack is remarkably varied-- while the core of it is four Masada pieces (all previously unreleased), these are mixed with a handful of moody pieces that've got that incidental tension feel to them and one downright ecstatic swing piece. Throughout, the playing is superlative-- of particular note is the way the trio captures a range of moods, be it mournful ("Chazel", "Shabbos Noir"), optimistic ("B'rachos"), dramatic (the aptly titled "Drama") or frightening ("The Trap"). Invariably, the piece works out nicely and stands on its own-- Zorn's done better soundtrack work, but this one's worth a listen. Recommended."

Zorn: Masada String Ensemble

Mark Mauer | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those that would like some info on new Zorn releases other than the tiny bits found on Amazon, hope this helps. First off, Filmworks XI is NOT for Under The Wing. It is listed on the CD like this: 2002 Volume One - Secret Lives Featuring the Masada String Trio. (Though Under The Wing may have been the original title of the film.)

It's the last three words there that are key. The string ensemble that plays Masada songs produces some of the most beautiful of Zorn's works. See for example the Circle Maker and Bar Kokhba which are each double CDs of Masada string work.

The 21 tracks here played by Mark Feldman on violin, Erik Friedlander on cello and Greg Cohen on bass take the traditional Jewish music that John Zorn has written for his Masada Songbook and turn it into achingly sad, melancholic - and powerful - stuff.

The film these tracks are from is Secret Lives: Hidden Children and their Rescuers During WWII, directed by Aviva Slesin.
It may not be quite as strong as Bar Kokhba, but it's great to hear new stuff from the group, and it is a very beautiful piece."