Solo Vocal Works on Jewish Themes: A Bibliography of Jewish Composers

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810861356 ISBN 13: 9780810861350

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2010

Solo Vocal Works on Jewish Themes: A Bibliography of Jewish Composers is a comprehensive and annotated compendium of stage, concert, and liturgical compositions written by Jewish composers from every known time period and country. Kenneth Jaffe has amassed nearly 3,000 large-scale musical works for solo voice(s) on Jewish themes, written by Jewish composers. The works include over 400 cantatas, 150 oratorios, almost 300 operas, more than 100 sacred services, 20 symphonies, and more than 350 stage works, including Yiddish theatre, Purim and sacred plays, multi-media pieces, and musical theatre. In addition, original song cycles and liturgical services arranged for a modest to large complement of instruments are also included.

The works are organized by composer and subdivided by genre, and each entry is fully annotated, detailing the title, opus, voicing and instrumentation, text source, commission, year completed, year and location of the premiere, the year of publication and the publisher (if any), the location of scores, and the duration of the work. The works are then broken down by theme, such as Biblical themes, works for children, works of the Holocaust or Jewish suffering and persecution, interfaith works, and wedding music. They are then cross-referenced by voice type, arrangement, and by title. A list of libraries and publishing houses of Jewish music rounds out this invaluable reference.

About the Author:

Kenneth Jaffe is cantor of Temple Ner Tamid in Downey, CA and has served Jewish congregations throughout the United States as an invested Cantor of the Reform Movement.

Review:

Jaffe's book is certainly an important reference work; it's well organized and contains much valuable information....One can certainly applaud Cantor Jaffe's efforts and his painstaking work in assembling and publishing this bibliography. (Musica Judaica Online Reviews)

as a practical reference guide, Solo Vocal Works on Jewish Themes would be a valued addition to seminary and academic libraries with music and Judaica collections. (Jonathan L. Friedmann, Cantor)

Overall, Solo Vocal Works on Jewish Themes is a useful tool for singers who are searching for music on Jewish topics....Libraries and synagogues would find this volume a beneficial addition to their holdings. (Journal of Singing)