Freylekh Soul (2024) - ca. 6.5'

saxophone quartet

Written for the Cerus Quartet

Video Coming Soon!

Premiere performance
To Be Determined

Program Note
I love klezmer music. From the toe-tapping, lively freylekh tunes to the sorrowful but soulful improvisational doinas. I also love the saxophone. So, I combined my love for klezmer music and for saxophone and wrote Freylekh Soul, or “Happy Soul,” a bubbly and beautiful klezmer-inspired saxophone quartet! Freylekh Soul is influenced by different klezmer dance styles, one of them being the freylekh. The yiddish term freylekh, meaning "happy" or "joyous," refers to a lively, upbeat dance, often performed at celebratory occasions such as weddings or festivals. Most of the piece is high-energy and fun, however some of the piece is inspired by the doina, improvisatory and free music that is traditionally played by the clarinet and accompanied by a drone-like chordal background.

While Freylekh Soul is influenced by klezmer music, its title is partly inspired by my neighbor, Bob. While writing this piece, I interviewed Bob as a part of a community project for NPR's From the Top. He talked about his love for music, his journey as a speed skater on his way to the Olympics, and how an injury right before the Olympic trials prevented him from ever skating again. Despite this tragedy, he has learned to love life and his happiness is infectious and inspiring.

Freylekh Soul is a celebration of happiness like I see in Bob and also a celebration of klezmer music and the saxophone.

Special thanks to the Cerus Quartet for collaborating with me and for performing and recording my work. Also, a special thanks to Max Schwimmer for so graciously teaching me about klezmer history, klezmer modes and scales, and influential klezmer players.