Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Frank Proto is an American composer and double bassist, who is well-known for his 30-year collaboration with double bass virtuoso and composer François Rabbath, resulting in 5 different works for double bass and orchestra.
One of Proto's most real and dark subject-mattered works, titled "Can This Be Man?: A Music Drama for Violin and Orchestra" covers topics of The Holocaust/World War II. Also heard scattered through the piece is melodic material and text from the song poem "Es Brent" by poet Mordekhai Gebirtig. It's definitely a very important work that I wanted to upload to YouTube for the world to hear.
Frank Proto wrote in the program notes:
"During our discussions we contacted David Stahl, Music Director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, to see if he would be interested in conducting the premiere. He was receptive to the idea and suggested that we might consider some sort of Holocaust Memorial theme. The idea of a Holocaust piece was intriguing and I decided to learn more about one of humanity’s most horrendous episodes. Of all the books that I read on the subject of the Holocaust, the one that made the strongest impression on me was Primo Levi’s If this is a Man. In fact, the title of the Concerto – Can This Be Man – was inspired by it. Levi’s classic book is necessary reading for all of us. It is the account of his year spent at the Buna labor camp at Monowitz near Auschwitz. Written more as a personal memoir than a history, If this is a Man documents the Nazi attempts to strip every ounce of dignity and humanity from its captives."
COMPOSER: Frank Proto
CONDUCTOR: David Stahl
ORCHESTRA: Charleston Symphony Orchestra
VIOLIN: Alexander Kerr
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I. Es Brent (It Burns)
13:29 - II. Rechtsstaat (Legal State)
21:54 - III. 10 November, 1938
30:16 - IV. Can This Be Man? Treblinka
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
Frank Proto is an American composer and double bassist, who is well-known for his 30-year collaboration with double bass virtuoso and composer François Rabbath, resulting in 5 different works for double bass and orchestra.
One of Proto's most real and dark subject-mattered works, titled "Can This Be Man?: A Music Drama for Violin and Orchestra" covers topics of The Holocaust/World War II. Also heard scattered through the piece is melodic material and text from the song poem "Es Brent" by poet Mordekhai Gebirtig. It's definitely a very important work that I wanted to upload to YouTube for the world to hear.
Frank Proto wrote in the program notes:
"During our discussions we contacted David Stahl, Music Director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, to see if he would be interested in conducting the premiere. He was receptive to the idea and suggested that we might consider some sort of Holocaust Memorial theme. The idea of a Holocaust piece was intriguing and I decided to learn more about one of humanity’s most horrendous episodes. Of all the books that I read on the subject of the Holocaust, the one that made the strongest impression on me was Primo Levi’s If this is a Man. In fact, the title of the Concerto – Can This Be Man – was inspired by it. Levi’s classic book is necessary reading for all of us. It is the account of his year spent at the Buna labor camp at Monowitz near Auschwitz. Written more as a personal memoir than a history, If this is a Man documents the Nazi attempts to strip every ounce of dignity and humanity from its captives."
COMPOSER: Frank Proto
CONDUCTOR: David Stahl
ORCHESTRA: Charleston Symphony Orchestra
VIOLIN: Alexander Kerr
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I. Es Brent (It Burns)
13:29 - II. Rechtsstaat (Legal State)
21:54 - III. 10 November, 1938
30:16 - IV. Can This Be Man? Treblinka
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
![Alex Weiser — and all the days were purple (2017) [w/ score]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P5DGaYS0fcw/mqdefault.jpg "Alex Weiser — and all the days were purple (2017) [w/ score]
A finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Music, this is Alex Weisers haunting, absolutely gorgeous song cycle and all the days were purple for (soprano) voice, piano, percussion and string trio. Born and raised in New York City, Weiser composes cosmopolitan music that merges a deeply felt historical perspective with a vibrant, forward-looking creative pulse. An energetic advocate for contemporary classical music and for the work of his peers, Weiser co-founded and currently directs Kettle Corn New Music, and is Director of Public Programs at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
Alex writes in the program notes:
Meditative and devotional in scope, and all the days were purple sets Yiddish and English poems to music in a song cycle that seeks out the divine while reflecting on the longing, beauty and tumult of life. The album includes texts by Anna Margolin, Edward Hirsch, Rachel Korn, and Abraham Sutzkever, and performances by Eliza Bagg (voice), Lee Dionne (piano), Maya Bennardo (violin), Hannah Levinson (viola), Hannah Collins (cello) and Michael Compitello (percussion).
COMPOSER: Alex Weiser
SOPRANO: Eliza Bagg
ENSEMBLE:
Lee Dionne, piano
Maya Bennardo, violin
Hannah Levinson, viola
Hannah Collins, cello
Mike Compitello, percussion
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - Introduction
0:25 - I. Mayn Glik (My Joy)
3:58 - II. *
8:02 - III. I Was Never Able to Pray
10:24 - IV. Benkshaft (Longing)
12:47 - V. Poezye (Poetry)
16:10 - VI. Lines for Winter
20:28 - VII. **
26:38 - VIII. Mir zaynen gegangen durkh teg (We Went Through the Days)
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
#scorefollower #contemporaryclassical #classicalmusic")
