YIVO Presents: Continuing Evolution 2: Yiddish Folksong in Classical Music

New York, NY) – On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 1:00pm (EDT), YIVO will host the digital musical performance premiere, Continuing Evolution 2: Yiddish Folksong in Classical Music. This event will feature five world premiere compositions commissioned for the occasion by YIVO. The new works by composers Derek David, David Ludwig, Anthony Russell/Uri Schreter, Daniel Schlosberg, and Dan Shore reflect different meanings of Yiddish folksong today.

The new compositions will be presented alongside archival recordings from the YIVO archive of the Yiddish folksongs they are reimagining, which range from love songs, labor songs, children's songs, and ballads, to a Yiddish tongue twister. Performances will be by members of the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program.

These new works carry forward a trend which began with Joel Engel's 1909 set of folksong arrangements and includes works by composers of the Society for Jewish Folk Music and composers such as Maurice Ravel, Sergei Prokofiev, Stefan Wolpe, Frederic Rzewski, Julia Wolfe, and others. YIVO began contributing to this repertoire of classical compositions that engage with and reimagine Yiddish folksongs with the commission of 5 new works for a performance in Spring 2020 and continues to build on this legacy of work with this concert.

When:            Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 1:00pm (EDT)
Where:          facebook.com/yivoinstitute and youtube.com/yivoinstitute
Reservations Available at:  yivo.org/Continuing-Evolution2

This program is part of the Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series. The Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series is made possible by a generous gift from the Estate of Sidney Krum. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

For more information contact:
Alex Weiser
Director of Public Programs

THE PERFORMERS

The Graduate Vocal Arts Program at Bard Conservatory is a unique Master of Music program in vocal arts. Created to prepare the young singer for the special challenges of pursuing a professional life in music in the 21st century, this two-year MM degree program balances a respect for established repertory and expressive techniques with the flexibility and curiosity needed to keep abreast of evolving musical ideas. Students work on operatic, art song, chamber music, and new music repertoire throughout the coursework of the program. Operatic repertoire is studied and performed throughout the curriculum and in fully staged productions at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. The program also includes a strong practical component, with seminars and classes on career skills led by some of the leading figures in arts management and administration.

YIVO

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the preservation and study of the history and culture of East European Jewry worldwide. For nearly a century, YIVO has pioneered new forms of Jewish scholarship, research, education, and cultural expression. Our public programs and exhibitions, as well as online and on-site courses, extend our outreach to a global community. The YIVO Archives contains 24 million unique items and YIVO’s Library has over 400,000 volumes—the single largest resource for the study of East European Jewish life in the world. yivo.org / yivo.org/the-whole-story