Presents
Joseph Achron
Märchen for Violin and Piano, Op.46
Joseph Achron (1886-1943) was born in the Lithuanian town of Lodzdzieje (now Lazdijai). He studied violin with his father and then at the Warsaw Conservatory with Isadore Lotto and finally at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Leopold Auer, teacher of such stars as Heifetz, Milstein and many others. Achron knew Heifetz and the two became friends with Heifetz championing Achron's music. After graduation, Achron pursued a career as a soloist, concertizing throughout Russia and Europe, Palestine and America. He taught and served as director of the Kharkov Conservatory and subsequently moved to Hollywood. Throughout his life, he composed. Most of his works are for violin and piano, however, he also wrote in several other genres.
Märchen dates from 1919. It is Achron’s take on a Jewish style fairytale and was imitated in 1923 by Ernest Bloch in his famous piece Nigun from the suite Baal Shem. The violin part, based on an original melody by Achron, is meant to convey the singing style of a synagogue cantor, full of decorative ornaments. The music is further enhanced by the chromatic piano part. The dramatic high point of the piece comes with the violin’s passionate, rhapsodic cadenza.
This works is highly evocative and makes a fine encore.
Parts: $9.95
