Hebräisches Lied und Tanz – for Violin and Guitar

Violinist and composer Efrem Zimbalist (1889-1985) was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States after his American debut in 1911. From 1941-1968, he was Director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.In 1908 the Jewish Folk Music Society was established in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire. Initially dedicated to the collection of folklore, the Society rapidly succeeded in creating a body of music by professional composers. Its success was formidable and organized over 154 concerts during the first five years of its activity, publishing more than 80 works of music. Among its stellar figures were composers Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev and violinists Jascha Heifetz, Efrem Zimbalist and Mischa Elman. Even more significantly, its activity proved to the Russian public and the world the existence and vitality of Jewish music.

This beautiful and charming folk – based “Hebraic Song and Dance”, adapted here by guitarist Gregg Nestor for violin and guitar, is the middle movement from a set composed in 1911 by Efrem Zimbalist called “Slavic Dances”.

We are grateful to Dr. Lin He, Associate Professor of Violin, Louisiana State University who contributed to refinements of this edition.