Sacred Songs for Recorder Quartet

Hans Lewitus

The Recorder, being ancient almost as the human voice, has similarities to singing in its essential aspects. It is the closest instrument to the soul, having no buffers between the air stream in the body and the sound coming out. This could be the reason for its suitability to describe religious texts and prayers, therefore it is so fitting that Hans Lewitus chose the instrumentation of a Recorder consort to perform J. S. Bach’s sacred works. This album creates a dialogue between the Recorder and the human Voice, both being not one specific instrument, but rather a family of timbres and sounds. 

This album also reflects a story about the transformation of a piece throughout four centuries. The original compositions originated in the Renaissance and Baroque period in the 16^th-17^th centuries after religious texts, to which J. S. Bach added a Bass line in the 18^th century. More than 200 years later, at the end of the 20^th century, Hans Lewitus added two additional inner voices, creating an orchestration of a Recorder consort.
A couple of decades later, in 2019, I had the privilege with the opportunity and freedom to search for new orchestrations inside the framework of the Recorder consort, creating the versions for this collection that you are holding now.

My colleagues and myself were excited and delighted to contribute to such an emotional and special project. Lewitus’ idiomatic composing for the Recorder reflects his deep understanding and familiarity with this family of instruments and the performers specializing in it. I am sure that Recorder players, students and amateurs worldwide will enjoy performing these beautiful pieces, and I invite you to listen and join us in this special musical journey.  Inbar Solomon

Edit-Maria Fazakas

Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme

of Paganini, op. 43

Following her debut in a recital at age 7 andher orchestral debut at age 11 with the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Orchestra, Edit-Maria Fazakas has performed inimportant venues across Europe (Austria, Germany — including the 2000 Hannover World Exhibition — Italy, France, Belgium, United Kingdom), in Japan and the USA.

Her most recent appearances include Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto with the Oberlin Conservatory Orchestra and Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, as a result of winning the school's concerto competition. Next season's engagements include Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto with the Newton Symphony.

In Romania, her native country, Edit has performed in the famous George Enescu International Music Festival and has made special recordings for the National Radio and Television.