David Serkin Ludwig's "Neshamah"
Program notes:
The Hebrew word “Neshamah” describes the soul or “breath of life” present in all living things. One author suggests that if our actions are musical notes and our lives are the score, the Neshamah is the composer—the creator within, who guides and inspires us.
The music is built out of Hebrew chant and the process of cantillation and troping, where melodic lines expand and contract as they evolve through a performance. This elasticity of overlapping phrases is a metaphor for breath, itself.
Neshamah was written in honor of my uncle, Peter Serkin, who passed away just before the pandemic. It is offered in his memory and with all gratitude to Augusta Read Thomas and the wonderful musicians of the Grossman Ensemble.
David Serkin Ludwig's Neshamah premiered on May 20, 2022 with the Grossman Ensemble.