《Kaddisch from Deux mélodies hébraïques, No.1,》

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Ravel is often considered one of the most original and prolific composers in France in the 20th century. Kaddisch is the first number from Deux mélodies hébraïques, while the second number is L’énigme éternelle. Composed in 1914, Kaddisch contained lyrics from an Arabic prayer praising the grace of God. In 1919, Ravel transformed the piano piece into an orchestral version. He sought inspiration from traditional folk songs, imitating certain harmonic colors and endowing the revised version with new artistic values. In Kaddisch, Ravel sought to evoke the unknown, ancient images of Heaven with music consisting of both purity and chaos, much like the fusion that created the genesis of the universe. The violin used in this recording was made by French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798-1875) in 1850. Replacing the original vocal melody, the violin begins the piece by playing a ceaseless, breathless incantation which conveys feelings of both painful agony and an enchanting allure, shrouding the infinite firmament in a layer of mystical beauty.