Search - Ted Christopher, Ernst Toch, Gerard Schwarz :: Toch-Cantata of the Bitter Herbs (Milken Archive American Jewish Music)

Beautiful Recording of a

J. T Waldmann | Carmel, IN, home to the fabulous new Regional Perf | 07/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Ernst Toch? Oh, yeah. He's the guy who wrote 'The Geographical Fugue.'" That's about all we knew about the man, we who, during the late 50s and early 60s, performed Toch's opus for spoken choir. In fact, Toch referred to himself as "the world's most forgotten composer." He was one of the "degenerate" composers (read "Jewish") whose music was forbidden by Hitler and the Third Reich. He emigrated to America in 1934 and, like many others driven out of Europe by the Nazis, found a niche in Hollywood writing film scores, for which he received three Oscar nominations. But his concert music found little audience in America, a source of frustration and disillusionment. Fortunately, between 1947 and his death in 1964 he produced seven symphonies and some pieces for strings. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his Third Symphony in 1956, and Symphony No. 5 - "Jeptha, Rhapsodic Poem" - is included on this recording. (All seven symphonies are available on the CPO label, conducted by Alun Francis.) Oh, yes. "The Geographical Fugue" can be heard on The Turtle Creek Chorale's album POSTCARDS.



Toch initially wanted to compose an opera based upon the biblical story of Jeptha and his daughter, but instead abandoned the project and wrote a one-movement symphony ". . . describing in abstract instrumental terms the unfolding of the biblical story . . . its tragic conflicts, and the emotional impact of its dilemma." It appears that the Israelites asked the warrior Jeptha to help them defeat the Ammonites. Jeptha ". . . made a vow to God that if He would deliver the Ammonites into his hands, he would demonstrate his gratitude by sacrificing . . . whatever was the first to emerge from his house upon his return." Well, as luck would have it, that "first" happened to be his daughter, his only child. Talk about dilemmas! Gerald Schwartz and the Seattle Symphony do a masterful job in bringing this music to life.



Although "Jeptha" may take a few listenings to be appreciated, not so "Cantata of the Bitter Herbs." It's immediately accessible. Taking his inspiration from the Passover hagadda, Toch ". . . conceived this work as transcending the confines of Jewish history and experience to express a universal theme: the equal injustice of all human oppression throughout the world. . . " Except for an aria sung in Hebrew, there's nothing about this piece that sounds remotely "Jewish." Charlie Richards writes in his review that it reminds him of Strauss or Zemlinsky. I hear Brahms, perhaps, or Mendelssohn. (My favorite movement is Psalm 126 for chorus and tenor and soprano duet: "When Adonai brought back his children to Zion, it would be like a dream, and the melodies would fill our tongue and the laughter our mouth." Sublime!) "Bitter Herbs" is an absolutely stunning piece of music, one that should find its way into the repertoire of our major orchestras, especially around Passover/Easter time. Perhaps then Ernst Toch would be less "forgotten."



I'm giving the recording 5 stars, although I quibble over the low recording level of "Bitter Herbs" and the pronunciation of the English text by the Prague Philharmonic Choir. (I'm sure a citizen of Prague would have the same criticism of an American choir singing in Czech.) It's a "shanda" that economics prohibits recording many of the works in the Milken Archive series in America. "American Jewish Music" recorded practically everywhere but America. Buy this lovely recording anyway."

Late romantic masterpiece

Charles Richards | Los Angeles, CA | 05/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thank God for Naxos! For years this innovative label has been introducing us to unjustly neglected works, and this past year they launched the "Milken Archive" series which has brought even more wonderful new works to light. So far every release in this series has been a winner, but I was truly taken aback by the beauty of Toch's "Bitter Herbs" cantata.
I must admit that, until now, Toch has been merely a name, I had heard of him but not heard any of his music before. Therefore, I do not know if either of the two works on this disc are representitive of his music as a whole, but I do know that each is exquisite, particularly "The Bitter Herbs". The music of this cantata reminded me a bit of Strauss or Zemlinsky, but Toch has a voice all his own, and this voice has a great deal to say. The force of the work's richness of melody caught me at once and never let up. The story of the exodus and first passover is one of the most dramatic in the Torah, and this is by far the most compelling musical re-telling of it that I have heard. Emotions range from steadfast prayer, pure in its belief ("Introduction") to childlike innocence ("Children's Dance") to sheer drama ("Ten Plagues") and finally to exquisite release in prayer (the radiant quartet "God of Right, God of Might").
Schwarz has a clear command of this score, and his soloists, though relatively unknown, are top-rate. Theodore Bikel makes a major contribution in his heartfelt reading of the narration.
"Jeptha", a rhapsodic symphony, is a later work and, though, not as immediatly as compelling as "The Bitter Herbs", it is a work that fascinates the listener upon re-hearing, and is a welcome addition to late romantic repertoire.
To sum it up, these works are amazing discoveries, and we have much to thank Naxos for in bringing them to light. At the low Naxos price, there is no way you can go wrong here, and I cannot recommend it highly enough."