Samuel Adler, one of America’s most respected composers, is equally known for his Judaic and general concert works. The selection of works on this CD embraces choral, cantorial, chamber, solo, and symphonic music, culminating in the Symphony No. 5, We Are the Echoes, which is based on Jewish poetry reflecting aspects of Jewish experience throughout history. The finale quotes the Jewish philosopher Heschel: “Now and then, high above me, I catch a glimpse of the faceless face of God.”

Tracklist

5 Sephardic Choruses 1 I. Yom Gila 01:43 2 II. Ya Ribbon Olam 01:11 3 III. Ein Keloheinu 02:16 4 IV. Adon Olam 02:09 5 V. Zamm'ri Li 01:14 6 Nuptial Scene 08:59 7 The Binding (excerpt) 08:57 8 El Melekh Yoshev 02:59 9 Ahavat Olam 01:56 10 Sim Shalom 02:02 11 Bar'khu 01:13 12 Sh'ma Yisra'el 01:34 13 V'ahavta and Mi Khamokha 03:36 14 Hashkivenu 04:46

Symphony No. 5, "We are the Echoes" 15 I. We Go 03:41 16 II. Even During War 04:52 17 III. The Future 04:57 18 IV. We Are the Echoes 06:39 19 V. God Follows Me Everywhere 05:11

Total Playing Time: 01:09:55

Samuel Adler is unique among those established mainstream American composers whose Jewish identities have played a formative part in their work. He has written prolifically for the Hebrew liturgy and has been consistently active in the American cantorial and Jewish music infrastructure. Adler was born in Mannheim, Germany, where his father, Hugo Chaim Adler, was a respected cantor. After the family’s immigration he became his father’s choir director at the age of 13. Adler studied composition with Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Walter Piston, and Randall Thompson, and conducting with Serge Koussevitzky His compositions include more than 400 works spanning nearly all media, apart from his large liturgical output. Adler has served on the faculty of the Juilliard School since 1997, while remaining professor emeritus at Eastman.