Музыкальные "Камни преткновения" (Stolpersteine)

The jewish way of musical thinking was a cornerstone in the European musicianship. Though in a certain period of the 20^th century it was considered “degenerate music”, we need to remember and remind of it’s importance, and ensure and assist it’s survival.

At the initiative of Günter Demnig, the German fine-artist, in many countries all over Europe they have laid “stumbling stones” into the road to remind of the deported during the Holocaust. So do we wish to use our concerts as memorial “stumbling stones” to evoke the Jewish way of musical thinking at certain stations of the 20^th century.

Each of the proposed 3 concerts will be part of that particular period which stretched from the “secure world” as described by Stefan Zweig through the Holocaust to the current day remembrance; following the change in the language of music brought on by the 20^th century starting with the sounds of the late romantic period, followed by the more puritan ways of the expressionism, coveting the expansion and disruption of the tonality, through the dissection of the traditional forms to the composition techniques based on guided coincidence and the unusual pairing of musical instruments.

A great number of composers representing the period marked by the “secure world” to the more and more liberated ways of composing have fallen victims to the devastation of the Holocaust, or became refugees; and the voice of the survivors for others reasons have been too difficult. Though the universal shock has created an absence – the Jewish way of musical thinking has never disappeared.

We are taking part in filling in the absence, giving way to new musical forms, using 21^st century musical expressions, new elements of style, experimenting with sound effects; in our 4^th concert we wish to present works entered into our own composition competition, giving new directions and encourage the survival of the Jewish way of musical thinking.