Louis Lewandowski

18 liturgical psalms for SATB choir and organ

The "18 liturgical psalms" by Louis Lewandowski represent a milestone in Jewish sacred music of the 19th century. As music director of the New Synagogue in Berlin, Lewandowski created this collection for soloists, choir and organ in order to combine traditional Jewish liturgy with the musical achievements of German Romanticism. The compositions, which are strongly influenced by the musical language of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, are characterized by their tonal splendour, melodic clarity and dignified atmosphere. To this day, these psalms are part of the core repertoire of synagogue singing and are performed worldwide both in religious services and in concerts, as they combine Jewish tradition and European art music in a unique way.