Bruch, Max: Kol Nidrei

Max Bruch composed 'Kol Nidrei' for Cello and Orchestra in 1881. It is styled as an Adagio on two Hebrew Melodies and consists of a series of variations on two main themes of Jewish origin. The first theme, which also lends the piece its title, comes from the Kol Nidre prayer, which is recited during the evening service on 'Yom Kippur'. The second theme is quoted from the middle section of Isaac Nathan's arrangement of 'O Weep for Those that Wept on Babel's Stream', a lyric which was penned by Lord Byron in his collection Hebrew Melodies. Dutch arranger Gerard Posch transcribed 'Kol Nidrei' for Cello with accompaniment of a Symphonic Band. In this transcription the Cello solo part can also be played by an Alto Saxophone.