Happy Rosh Hashanah: Itzhak Perlman releases 'Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul'

September 17, 2012 at 6:49 PM

Happy Rosh Hashanah for the many Jewish friends among us, and to make it happier, this month Itzhak Perlman released a new recording of Jewish liturgical and traditional music, called Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul.

Perlman helped bring klezmer music to a broader audience when he recorded the soundtrack for the 1993 movie 'Schindler's List'. Ironically, perhaps, the music for "Schindler's List" was not from any kind of Jewish canon; it was written by movie music composer John Williams. To that, Perlman said in the video interview posted below, "I couldn't believe how authentic (Williams) got everything to sound." One might argue that it was Perlman who shot the music through with authenticity!

Photo by Akira Kinoshita

In any case, Perlman's latest project features traditional Jewish works, 10 tracks in all, in collaboration with Israeli-born Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, chamber orchestra and other klezmer musicians.

Perlman has said that his idea “was to do ‘Jewish comfort music’ – everything that I recognize from my childhood is in this program…There is so much history in this music. For me, every little musical groan or sob that happens is Jewish history. It makes you think.”

You can find out more about the album on Perlman's website.

Here is "Kol Nidrei" from Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul, with Itzhak Perlman and Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot:

And for old times' sake: a live performance from 1995 of "Schindler's List Theme," with Itzhak Perlman playing and John Williams conducting.

From Roland Bailey
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Thanks for these videos. The music speaks to me.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Lovely to read/hear, Laurie. (The "Schindler's List" piece, however, is now permanently stuck in my head!)

From Laurie Niles
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 4:23 PM

It is a wonderful piece. There's a really nice arrangement of John Williams' Schindler's List for violin duet by Amy Barlowe, appropriate for the intermediate violinist and up. Here is the link:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Theme-from-Schindler-s-List/19221852

From Don Sullivan
Posted on September 24, 2012 at 9:41 AM

Thanks, Laurie. Good blog & great music. Itzhak Perlman tops my list of influences that gave me my love for the violin. When he plays, he gently coaxes beautiful sound out of the instrument. I also love how when he plays, he authentically looks like he is enjoying the music he makes. Thanks again.

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Happy Rosh Hashanah: Itzhak Perlman releases 'Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul'

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