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Selection: Out of my Great Sorrows by Robert Franz, arr. Cheifetz (See lyric by Heinrich Heine, below)

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Jubilatum

Personal notes:

Jubilatum - a song of praise and celebration. In addition to being the title of Bryan Johanson's exuberant piece for cello and guitar, the character of Jubilatum is a theme which runs through this recording.

The joyous Sonata in E Major by François Francoeur, originally for violin, is performed in the transcription by Arnold Trowell. As part of a continuing affectionate experiment with the vocal repertoire, I have arranged two songs: the poignant Out of my Great Sorrows by Robert Franz, and Forest Solitude, Max Reger's tender treatment of a Franconian folk song. Gaspar Cassadó's dramatic transcription of Toccata by Girolamo Frescobaldi is followed by the elegance of The Swan, from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns. Among Gregor Piatigorsky's many transcriptions, the Divertimento by Haydn is endearing for its simplicity and good humor. The Suite No. 3 in C Major by Bach is perhaps the most approachable of the six unaccompanied cello suites. It belongs here because it truly embodies the spirit of Jubilatum. The program concludes with Bryan Johanson's Jubilatum and his gentle Berceuse, also scored for cello and guitar.

In a way, both Jubilatum and Berceuse are works reflecting events from my private life. I composed Jubilatum in the summer of 1990. I had recently gotten married and wanted to compose something joyful as a present to my wife Victoria. The Berceuse was written in the summer of 1992 as an expression of love and wonder at the birth of our first child, Molly. Both works were written for my friend, cellist Hamilton Cheifetz.

OUT OF MY GREAT SORROWS
[Aus meinen grossen Schmerzen]

Out of my great sorrows
I make little songs;
they raise their sonorous wings
and flutter towards her heart.
They have found their way to my beloved,
yet they come back and lament,
and lament, and will not say
what they saw in her heart.

-- Heinrich Heine

Jubilatum