Polish-Jewish Music on the West Coast of USA in 2021
30.12.2021
As soon as concerts with the participation of the audience became possible, artists from the Association of Polish Chamber Musicians flew to Los Angeles with a unique music program.
The project of the Polish Chamber Musicians Association (SPMK) "Music of Polish-Jewish composers in the USA" occurred from October to December 2021 in six American cities. The purpose of the project was to bring the American audience closer to the common Polish-Jewish music and the works and biographies of lesser-known Polish-Jewish composers. SPMK was founded by a group of musicians and music lovers. The goal of the organization is to support the development of musical culture, promote chamber music and artists-musicians, organize events, as well as cooperate with culture-creating institutions.
During concerts in Los Angeles (including the University of Southern California, Holocaust Museum LA and the residence of the Consul General of the Republic of Poland); in San Francisco (Commonwealth Club of California); Seattle (Polish Home Association); Paso Robles at the Paderewski Festival, Chula Vista, San Diego (Performing Arts Center) and New York (Jewish Community Center) resounded with music by composers of Polish-Jewish origin: R. Ryterband, M. Weinberg, S. Laks, K. Rathaus, G. Fitelberg, I. Friedman was played.
Why did Polish musicians decide to implement such an undertaking?
The Polish Chamber Musicians Association has been developing projects promoting Polish chamber music for years, bringing out many works from oblivion on the Polish and foreign stage, through festivals, recordings, and concert tours. The Association also develops international cooperation, building relations with foreign institutions, and also promotes Polish-Israeli dialogue through youth exchanges. The music of Polish-Jewish composers is one of the most important areas of SPMK's activity; in this area, too many composers—due to historical circumstances and individual fates—have been "orphaned." The project was the culmination of many years of SPMK's efforts and allowed to establish new contacts –explains Professor Grzegorz Mania, co-founder, and president of the Association.
During each of the concerts, a different repertoire was presented in a diverse configuration of artists and instruments. In total, ten musicians presented over 50 pieces of Polish-Jewish music. The concerts gathered audiences of almost 800 listeners and 500 through online broadcasts. During the performances the artists presented the biographies of composers and their life and creative paths, trying to convey the musical atmosphere of multicultural Poland.
Why is it worth presenting the music of Polish-Jewish composers in USA?
The music of Polish-Jewish composers is in fact a story about multicultural Poland and its complicated fate. It is also a story about searching for one's own identity, a split between different worlds – explains Mania. It is also music that demands to be remembered, "embraced,” because many composers have been affected by a fate similar to that of other wanderers who, emigrating for various reasons in many directions, have in fact become orphans, deprived of their own country and alienated in the new one. It is simply music about identity and belonging – he adds.
The project "Music of Polish-Jewish composers in USA" was implemented as part of the Cultural Bridges of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute grant program, which is part of the Multiannual Independent Program 2017-2022. The partners of the project were the Polish Music Center at USC, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, and the Kościuszko Foundation.
