BLOCH Ernest (Bloch Ernest)

(1880-1959)
For his work is characterized by the inclusion of Jewish liturgical melodies in works written in contemporary styles and modern musical language. Bloch was born July 24, 1880 in Geneva. He studied at the E.Zhak-Dalcroze in Geneva and for several years has evolved into the violin playing in Brussels from E. Ysaye. He worked as a conductor in Lausanne (1911-1915) and taught composition at the Geneva Conservatory. In 1916 he came to the United States as conductor of the ballet troupe.
Creativity Bloch is deeply connected with the atmosphere of a traditional Jewish home. This is reflected in a number of his most successful works. Are the three Jewish poem for orchestra (Trois pomes juifs, . 1913); symphony? 2 Israel (Israel, . 1917); Shlomo, . Jewish Rhapsody for cello and orchestra (Schelomo: a Hebrew rhapsody, . 1915-1916), the Baal Shem, . Three pictures of Chassidic life for violin and orchestra (Baal Schem, . 1923); Psalms (Psalms, . 1912-1914); Jewish suite for violin and piano (Suite hbraique, . 1923); Voice in the Wilderness, . symphonic poem with cello solo (Voice in the Wilderness, . 1937), and finally, . one of the most famous works of Bloch - Synagogue office Avodat Hakodesh for mixed chorus and orchestra (Avodath Hakodesh, . 1934),
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However talent Bloch would not let him restrict Jewish themes. In 1903 he wrote an opera on Shakespeare's Macbeth (libretto by E. FLEG). She walked 15 times in the Paris 'Opera Comique' in 1910 and was renewed in Naples in 1938. Bloch fame in Europe and the United States grew rapidly thanks to his symphonic works. Thus, the composer wrote a symphony with a chorus of America (America, 1917): dedicated to the memory of Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman. Country where he was born, Switzerland, Bloch almost symphonic poem Helvetia (Helvetia, 1929). Important events in the composer's creative life began and his early symphonic works, . example, . Live and love (Vivre et aimer, . 1900) and Winter - Spring (Hiver - printemps, . 1905), . as well as more recent - Symphonic Suite (Suite symphonique, . 1945), . orchestral suite Sea Poems (Poems of the Sea, . 1923) and especially the two frequently performed concerti grossi (1925 and 1953), . in which the features of pre-classical instrumental genres are combined with modern language of the composer,
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In addition, we can mention two violin sonatas, mystical poem (Pome mystique) for violin and piano, piano concerto, violin concerto and several string quartets. Second opera Bloch - Jezebel (Jezabel) remained unfinished.

Bloch died in Portland (pc. Oregon) 15 July 1959.