For centuries, the persecution of various ethnic groups has forced younger generations to separate from their elders and seek safety and freedom in foreign lands. Despite differences in historical circumstances, the traged... more »ies and triumphs of the experience are essentially the same. It is the story of untold numbers of families. It is the story of this symphony.« less
For centuries, the persecution of various ethnic groups has forced younger generations to separate from their elders and seek safety and freedom in foreign lands. Despite differences in historical circumstances, the tragedies and triumphs of the experience are essentially the same. It is the story of untold numbers of families. It is the story of this symphony.
CD Reviews
An arc of beauty and emotion
Mark Muro | Chevy Chase, MD | 08/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like Aaron Copeland and Vaughn Williams before him, Hurwit in his first--and only--symphony has crafted a seamless arc of beauty and emotion that will delight listeners perpetually homesick after the disappearance of melody from classical composition.
Hurwit's theme--the migrations of generations of emigrants to the New World--could not be more affecting. But at a moment when such themes are increasingly relevant, Hurwit's real accomplishment is not just a musical diagram of departure and arrival but a artful braiding of themes and musical materials that adds up to a powerful Romantic listening experience. Do give "Remembrance" a listen. I predict it will haunt you forever."
"Modern Music" should always sound this beautiful
Brendan Townsend | Laredo, TX USA | 02/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I was first approached about conducting this symphony my initial reaction - despite my known commitment to promoting and presenting music by living composers - was "Who wants to listen to an hours worth of "modern music"?" Audiences today are hard enough to connect with when playing Beethoven and Brahms, why would they sit through 4 very long movements of music by an unknown composer?
When I first sat and listened to the work my initial reaction was "Find me the contact information for this composer - I want to program this symphony on a concert!"
The Remembrance Symphony is hauntingly beautiful, excellently crafted, and astonishingly well proportioned. The four movements weave together a story of a people and their migration - a story familiar to many generations and peoples. We might not all have had the same reasons for our migrations, but the people of the USA are mostly descendents of immigrants, so we can all feel a connection towards this story. The story is beautifully represented in the music - and yet never becomes the focus of your listening. Even if you never heard what the work was about, you would still find yourself entranced by the themes that roll one into the other, the rich harmonies that interweave and resolve, the broad breath of each movement.
The performance by Michael Lankester and the Bulgraian National Symphony Orchestra is very clean, well balanced, and brings to life the wonderful counterpoints of the work. Of particular interest are the Klezmer Band (which weaves it's way into the second movement), the richly expansive third movement, and the return of so many themes from earlier movements in the symphony's finale. As others have written in their reviews, this is music that haunts you, that sticks in your mind, and fills your soul with warmth. I will simply add that the additional story of how this work came to be written (which you can read on the composer's website) and what Albert Hurwit went through to get this work to this final stage is a story equally as worthy of getting written as the music that we hear on this CD.
This CD is worth every minute of your time - you will find yourself returning to these wonderful themes again and again. You will love spending time enveloped in the rich sounds of this work. Just make sure that your speakers are turned up!!!!
Brendan Townsend
Music Director, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra"
Wonderful new symphony
Elliot Rosenbaum | 08/31/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"(I hold a Masters in Music.)
The Laredo Philharmonic is scheduled to perform Albert Hurwit's Symphony No. 1 during the 2009/10 season. It will be a memorable experience to hear a live performance of this important new work.
In Symphony No. 1 -- Remembrance, Hurwit conveys the universal feelings all people share when faced with the unbearable choice of having to leave their homeland to seek an unpersecuted life.
Each movement of the symphony conveys a different emotion:
The First Movement introduces accessible, lyrical themes, which express the bonds of family and home. These bonds are occasionally shattered by powers that eventually drive people to leave.
The Second Movement expresses fear and terror, as negative experiences overwhelm the positive forces of family and home.
The Third Movement musically illustrates the pain and heartache of a group of people when they are forced to leave all they love to seek a better life. This movement will touch your heart with its pathos and beauty.
The Fourth and final Movement takes you on the optimistic journey to a new and exciting future in America, a land filled with opportunity and hope.
This is an important, powerful new orchestral work.
As a child descended from families who left Europe in the early 20th Century to seek the Statue of Liberty and the promises it holds, this symphony bears a personal message, which I share with millions of other refugees and immigrants.
Highly recommended.
Rabbi Elliot Rosenbaum
Laredo, Texas
"
Remarkable and touching
LL in the Bronx | New York City | 10/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a beautiful, exciting, and moving work this is. It was written as an homage to those people throughout history who have been forced to leave their homelands to escape persecution. As he writes in the liner notes, the composer explains: "For centuries, the persecution of various ethnic groups has forced younger generations to separate from their elders and seek safety and freedom in foreign lands. Despite differences in historical circumstances, the tragedies and triumphs of the experience are essentially the same. It is the story of untold numbers of families. It is the story of this symphony."
The tale of the composer's own ancestors is depicted throughout the symphony, and the most touching and beautiful of all four movements is the third one, titled "Remembrance," during which Hurwit expresses the sadness of separation of the family. The work is full of memorable themes (played by a klezmer band at one point), and I particularly like the excitement of the opening fanfare of the fourth movement.
Listen to the samples on this site, and you'll hear how beautiful this symphony is.
"
You Must Go
Pourreyron Andre | Nieul sur Mer, France | 09/10/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Those who have lived through an exodus directly or indirectly will appreciate this very moving symphony."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1