“Music and Memories” by Clara Rockmore

“Music and Memories” by Clara Rockmore (Roméo Records 7330-1)

Unless a time traveler, armed with a portable digital recorder, goes to the past and records them live, sadly, we will never be able to hear some of Clara Rockmore‘s most significant theremin performances. Like her August 1937 interpretation of Bloch’s Schelomo, accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Robin Hood Dell and the violin music recital, with her sister Nadia Reisenberg on piano, held at New York’s Town Hall in October 1938.

But fortunately, the recordings of many other performances exist, thanks to the Nadia Reisenberg / Clara Rockmore Foundation’s commendable work, and thanks to the excellent work done by Ron Mannarino of Romeo records, they are available to us.

And “Music and Memories” by Clara Rockmore, which follows the successful “Music In and On the Air,” released in 2012, gives us radio interviews, home recordings, and recordings of her last concert appearance.

Complementing this album is the bonus album “Music and Memories – Bonus Album.”

Tracks Listing

Symphonie Espagnole: Andante (6:32)
Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043.: 2: Largo (7:23)
Sonata for violin and piano in A major: Allegretto ben moderato (6:41)
Sonata for violin and piano: Allegro (8:57)
Sonata for Violin and Piano: Ben moderato: Recitativo-Fantasia (8:24)
Sonata for violin and piano: Allegretto poco mosso (6:35)
Opening remarks (4:19)
Estrellita (3:01)
Kaddish (6:08)
Interview with Clara Rockmore and Morey Ritt (3:40)
Song of Grusia, Op. 4, No. 4 (5:27)
Impromptu interview with Alexander Schneider (4:11)
Doubt (2:29)
Elegy: Do not tempt me needlessly. (3:24)
WQXR Radio Broadcast, February 14, 1984: “Valentine to Vilna” (22:59)
WBAI Radio Broadcast, 1962 (21:30)
WNYC Radio Broadcast, September 12, 1995 (7:19)
WQXR Radio Broadcast, January 4, 1992: Commentary Interview, Part One (8:50)
Song of Grusia (4:41)
Commentary, Part 2 (1:02)
The Swan (3:00)