Sherman Chamber Ensemble Presents Unique Musical Program

April 26th at the Jewish Community Center in Sherman

www.shermanchamberensemble.com
 
To kick off its 2008 season, Sherman Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director Eliot has put together an unusual and intriguing program celebrating the rich cultural heritage expressed in contemporary and traditional music from the Sephardic tradition. “Celebrating Sephardic Melody” will be presented at the Jewish Community Center at 9 Route 39 South in Sherman on Saturday, April 26th at 8:00 PM.

Offering world class music close to home for over 25 years, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble has become known for the diversity of its programming and the range of expertise of its musicians. This special program at the JCC, which is open to the general public, is no exception.

The Sephardic tradition blends the ritual music of the medieval Jewish communities of Spain and Portugal with the influences of the Mediterranean regions such as North Africa, Turkey and Greece to which they were exiled in the 17th and 18th centuries, along with elements of Western European Baroque and Classical music. The result is a vocal and instrumental repertoire that is deeply spiritual while still expressing rhythmic vitality and melodic tenderness.

SCE’s sampling of this tradition will include music from the 19th centu ry collections of pianist-composer Emanuel Aguilar, a 17th century sonata by Salamone Rossi, and a contemporary interpretation by Jorge Liderman, written to capture the vibrant life of the Jewish quarter in present day Cordoba, Spain.

Guest artist Paul Woodiel, whose champion bluegrass fiddling skills as well as his classical violin expertise are well-known to SCE audiences, will be highlighting yet another facet of his multi-talented musical persona. 

Performing on both fiddle and hurdy gurdy, Woodiel has also brought his arranging skills to bear on a selection of traditional Sephardic melodies to round out the evening.  He will be joined by SCE newcomer Steve Gibb on guitar and oud, a type of lute developed in ancient times in the Arab world.  Eliot Bailen will perform on guitar as well as his usual cello, and Susan Rotholz will be showcased on flute and vocals.  Percussion wil l be supplied by their son David Bailen, an up-and-coming young performer in his own right.

Tickets for the concert, which includes a post-concert reception with the musicians, are $25 per person ($20 for JCCS members). For information and reservations, call the Jewish Community Center in Sherman at 860-355-8050 or the Sherman Chamber Ensemble at 860-355-5930.

Sherman Chamber Ensemble

Founded in 1983 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble was recently described in The New York Times as "about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert." The April 26th performance at the JCCS is only the beginning of what promises to be an exciting year of music with the Sherman Chamber Ensemble.  Also on tap are our signature summer concert series (this year scheduled for July 11th and 12th, August 8th and 9th, and August 29th and 30th), children's activities, bluegrass jamborees, the annual "Live at the Lake" coffeehouse, Thanksgiving weekend free jazz matinee performances and much more . Subscription tickets for the 3-concert summer series are now available for $50.  Support for this season comes from many generous individual donors, the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, private foundations and local businesses. For more information, contact the Sherman Chamber Ensemble at
P.O. Box 578, Sherman, CT  06784, online at www.shermanchamberensemble.com or by phone at 860-355-5930.