Correspondence

By JEWISH REVIEW

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To the editor:

Thank you for the article focusing on the important efforts of Sylvain Fremaux and Jill Timmons, residents of Lake Oswego, to translate the monumental biography of Swiss-born Jewish composer Ernest Bloch from French into English.

Ernest Bloch spent the final two decades of his life in Oregon, and we have every reason to be proud of that fact. But Bloch was a world figure and that is an even more compelling reason for giving support to this undertaking. How many other Oregonians can any of us name who have international recognition in an artistic realm?

I had the privilege of participating in an international conference on Ernest Bloch in Cambridge, England, in July 2007, anticipating observances of the 50th anniversary of Bloch’s death in Portland in July 2009.

My topic was to heighten insight into the composer’s personality by “listening to voices” of Bloch and family members through actual recordings.

When attendees at the conference were asked what actions they felt were needed to rekindle interest in Bloch, obviously their first response was to encourage more performances, especially of his lesser known works. Next, unquestionably, was their call for an English translation of Joseph Lewinski’s biography of Bloch, where his voice is preserved through extensive correspondence and other writings.

On a related note, the music department of Portland State University and its Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies have been remarkable collaborators in reviving interest in Ernest Bloch’s music.

Through their commitment and initiatives of other cultural organizations, Oregonians are hearing some stunning works. And lest anyone suggest that Bloch is yesteryear’s composer, ask Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini fame for his opinion, which Thomas reveals brilliantly on piano keys!

Joella Werlin
Portland

Joella Werlin writes personal, professional and family histories. She is a member of the Association of Personal Historians.