Souvenir from Chisinau

Item details

• Description +

  • Duration: 12 min.
    
    This work is in 4 movements and in general the composition is in Klezmer style.
    
    The first movement is Andante cantabile, in sol minor. In the traditional style the main tendency is to stay at the same tonality also when sometimes it can bear an ambiguous character. Here there is a modulation from one section to the other one. A short cadenza finishes the movement.
    
    The second movement is Allegro molto with do minor as tonal center. Again a short cadenza leads directly to the next movement.
    
    The third movement is Andante in sol minor. Some modulations occur starting from the third section. The Coda returns to sol minor. A short cadenza leads directly to the last movement.
    
    The fourth movement is Allegro molto in fa minor. The style is somewhat a fusion between klezmer and jazz music. A Long Coda finishes the whole piece.
    
    The name of the work "Souvenir from Chisinau" remits to the city where I first met the marimba virtuoso Matthew Coley. It is also a geographical area where klezmer music was during centuries developed and continuously enriched through the interaction between different musical traditions.

• Instrumentation +

  • Marimba

• About the composer +

  • Daniel Galay gained his reputation as composer through the performance in many countries of his orchestral works, music for theater, ballet and chamber music. He composed music to Yiddish folktales, to poems of Perets Markish, Abrom Sutskever and Uri Tzvi Grinberg, and chamber operas to his own libretti. His Klezmer Tunes with a classical touch were performed by Giora Feidman and other leading artists over the world, like Prof. Michele Gingras (Miami University of Ohio) who released CD's with it and Prof. Gregory Barret who arranged it for Wind Orchestra ensembles. In Duo Galay with his daughter Racheli, cellist, they played in different countries presenting programs of Jewish, Contemporary and Classical music as well.
    
    Galay was born in 1945 in Argentina and immigrated to Israel in 1965. His Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago (1979) accomplished his musical studies and previous degrees in Piano, Theory and Composition from the National Conservatory in Buenos Aires and the Tel-Aviv University, Rubin Music Academy.
    
    For several years he is the Chairman of Leyvik House, the Association of Yiddish writers and Journalists in Israel, where he introduced changes to attract new generations to Jewish Culture and Literature. His playwrights, poetry and articles are published in books and different publications in Israel and abroad. Member of the Editorial Board of "Naye Vegn" and the H. Leyvik Publishing House. Daniel Galay is a promoter of Yiddish Culture and the preservation of Ashkenaz Identity. His works, writings and appearances made a genuine impact in Israeli society.

• Reviews +

  • Review (Percussive Notes, March (58) 2012)
    
    

    Composed in Klezmer style, this four-movement work is full of dancelike melodies that are suitable for any audience. Each movement flows into the next, via short cadenzas, which provides the listener with 12 minutes of continuous celebratory charm.
    
    On paper, the music looks as if it should be scored for cello and violin; the left hand is usually the accompaniment, while the right hand provides the melodic lines. Primarily, single independent (inside and outside), double vertical, and single alternating strokes are used. Although the techniques are not extremely advanced, tremendous sensitivity and musicality are needed. Much of the material is repeated, and I recommend omitting several, if not all repeats, reducing the work to nine minutes.
    
    As music seemingly becomes more difficult by the minute, it is a breath of fresh air to see this new work that utilizes intermediate technique and musical content that can be appreciated by all.

    —T. Adam Blackstock

• Credits +

  • Front Cover graphics and layout: Ronni Kot Wenzell
    Engraving: Daniel Galay/Johan Svitzer
    Editor: Matthew Coley
    Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
    Copyright © Edition SVITZER
    Dedicated to Matthew Coley
    www.editionsvitzer.com

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