Ernest Bloch (1880 - 1959) - Concerto Grosso No. 1 (1925)

Performed at Horizon Ensemble - Past and Future (12/12/21)

Concerto Grosso No. 1 (1925)
I. Prelude
II. Dirge
III. Pastorale and Rustic Dances
IV. Fugue

*Ernest Bloch* was born in Switzerland in 1880. As a young adult, he lived in Germany and France, before eventually settling in the United States. He had a long career as a composer and professor, teaching at schools such as the Mannes School of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of California at Berkeley. Bloch’s compositions encompass a wide range of styles; many of his works draw from his Jewish heritage. This Concerto Grosso was written in 1925 during his time teaching in Cleveland. It takes inspiration from Baroque forms while using many modern techniques.