Ravel, Maurice - Kaddisch from Two Hebrew Songs for Cello and Piano - Edited by Solow - International Music Co.

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) composed his Deux melodies hebraiques (“Two Hebrew Songs”) in 1914. The first is a setting of the Kaddish, the prayer for mourners, one of the most important prayers in the Jewish liturgy.The words of the Kaddish, which means “sanctification” in Aramaic, come from a 13th century Jewish prayer and can be approximated thusly: May the name of God be exalted and sanctified throughout the world which He created according to His will. May His peaceful kingdom be established unto us and all men, speedily and soon. Let us say Amen. The songs were commissioned by soprano Alvina Alvi, who premiered them with the composer at the piano at a concert of the Independent Musical Society in Paris. They were published in 1915 by Durand, and Ravel orchestrated them in 1919-20.Ravel’s friend Lucien Garban (1877-1959), composer, arranger and editor-in-chief of Durand, made and published a violin transcription in 1924, establishing a tradition of instrumental performances of the Kaddisch. Also performed by baritones (Gerard Souzay’s rendition is particularly expressive), I prefer the equivalent register on the cello. -Jeffrey Solow, August 2024