Yehudi Wyner, a beloved teacher here at Brandeis University, has a new CD released as part of the Milken Archive project on the Naxos label.
Naxos ID 8.559423

THE MIRROR SUITE, from music for the play by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1972-3)
PASSOVER OFFERING (1959)
TANTS UN MAYSELE (1981)

Featuring: Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Carol Wincenc, flute; Daniel Stepner, violin; Jennifer Langham and Ronald Thomas, cello; James Guttman, double bass; Bruce Creditor, clarinet; David Taylor, bass trombone; Robert Shulz, percussion; Carol Meyer, soprano; Judi Brown Kirchner, mezzo-soprano; Matthew Kirchner, tenor; Richard Lalli, baritone; Yehudi Wyner, speaker and piano.

This release features world-premiere recordings of three evocative works by leading contemporary composer Yehudi Wyner. The Mirror, a play by Isaac Bashevis Singer, explores the interior life of a Jewish woman living in a small eastern European town. The surrealistic plot, which in terms of religious orthodoxy could be considered subversive, mixes themes of sexual repression and fantasy, presided over by a demon who haunts the woman’s mirror. Wyner’s atmospheric music for this drama is inspired by various Jewish traditions, including secular folk and religious song, the music of klezmer bands, and modal echoes of Sephardi and Near Eastern Jewry. Also included on this CD are two instrumental works: Passover Offering-a reflection on the biblical story-and the folklore-inspired Tants un Maysele (Dance and Little Story).

NEW INTERVIEW ON THE MILKEN ARCHIVE WEBSITE

A new interview with composer Yehudi Wyner and clarinetest Richard Stoltzman is featured on the homepage of the Milken Archive Web site.

Please visit the Milken Archive website at www.milkenarchive.org