I have loved and performed this inspired work for over 40 years and was blessed to study it with the composer’s daughter, Suzanne Bloch, who was one of my teachers at Juilliard. Whereas there are limitless settings of the Christian Mass, settings of the Jewish Saturday Morning Liturgy by major composers are few and far between. The Bloch Sacred Service stands without peer. His setting was deeply personal and was not based on “traditions” but inspired by a cosmic vision. This coming September, during the Jewish High Holidays, we will feature the entire piece. Today is just a sampling of this extraordinarily beautiful work. This movement begins mystically with the otherworldly “Kedusha,” progresses to the cosmic “Sh’ma,” and ends in a paean of joy with “Thou shalt reign, Adonoy, evermore.”

– Dennis Keene

ERNEST BLOCH Movement II from Avodath Hakodesh (Sacred Service)

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Zachary Nelson, Baritone (Cantor)
Andrew Henderson, Organist

Recorded live May 17, 2018, at Church of the Ascension
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.