Bloch, Ernest - Four Episodes / Two Poems / Concertino / Suite Modale - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Born in Geneva, Ernest Bloch moved to the United States in 1916. Although Bloch’s name is indelibly associated with his ‘Jewish works’ such as Schelomo (Naxos 8.550519), Suite hébraïque (Naxos 8.557151) and the Israel Symphony, his music underwent several changes of compositional style, exploring a varied melodic and harmonic language. The early, neo-romantic diptych Hiver- Printemps was Bloch’s first important work to be performed. Scored for string quintet, wind quintety and piano, Four Episodes consists of four short, highly individual and virtuosic movements. Concertino for flute, viola and strings and Suite Modale for flute and strings, written towards the end of Bloch’s life, provide a masterly demonstration of contrapuntal technique.
Atlas Camerata Orchestra; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/
Dalia Atlas
Ernest Bloch
Four Episodes
1. No. 1. Humoresque macabre
2. No. 2. Obsession
3. No. 3. Calm
4. No. 4. Chinese
Two Poems
5. No. 1. Hiver
6. No. 2. Printemps
Concertino
7. I. Allegro comodo
8. II. Andante
9. III. Allegro
Suite modale
10. I. Moderato
11. II. L'istesso tempo
12. III. Allegro giocoso
13. IV. Adagio - Allegro deciso