Bloch Schelomo: Hebrew Rhapsody. A Study for Unaccompanied Double Bass

Ernest Bloch was born in Geneva, Switzerland and educated throughout Europe. In addition to composition he studied violin with Eugen Ysaye in Brussels. In 1916, he visited the United States and later became an American citizen, living more than half his life in America. Between 1920 and 1930 he served as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Schelomo (Solomon) was composed for cello and orchestra in 1915 and was premiered in 1917 by Hans Kindler, principal cello of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The work is based on the book of Ecclesiastes which Solomon is believed to have written. (Source - The International Cyclopedia of

Music and Musicians edited by Oscar Thompson)
This Study of five excerpts (No. 1 is the opening section and No.5 the closing) from Schelomo

is dedicated to the memory of Rod Glaubman (1951-2018). One of Rods favorite pieces was the Bloch Prayer (From the Jewish Life) for Cello and Piano. Upon graduation from high school and the beginning of his freshman year at the University of Miami, he auditioned successfully on the double bass with the Prayer for Alain Lombard, the conductor of the Miami Philharmonic. His mother Edna Glaubman, a prominent artist, was very proud of his accomplishments. Rod was innovative throughout his life and a very special human being.