The Song of Songs the Poet in Exile Works By Walter Arlen – Walter Arlen CD

Arlen was a Jewish composer, originally from Austria who escaped Hitler’s invasion into Vienna. His family was persecuted, and lots of his family were murdered or committed suicide as a result of the holocaust, which inspired a lot of his compositional writing. When he escaped to the US where he lived with family friends, Arlen entered songs in a competition, winning first prize. This allowed him to live, study and work as amanuensis with Roy Harris. Through Harris he was introduced to famous composers of the day (such as Schoenberg, Mahler etc) and wrote for the Los Angeles Times as music reviewer for many years before committing to his own compositional works, both of whom have had additions made by conductor Kenneth Woods, with Arlen’s permission.

Disc 1
1. What Is That Coming? (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
2. Behold, You Are Beautiful (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
3. Oh, That He, That He Would Kiss (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
4. Very Dark Am I (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
5. If You Know Not (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
6. While the King (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
7. As an Apple Tree (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
8. See There He Comes (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
9. Arise My Beautiful Shepherdess (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
10. Upon My Bed at Night (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
11. Oh My Dove (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
12. Postlude (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
13. Incantation (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
14. Island (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
15. Music (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
16. For J.L. (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers
17. Recovery (Walter Arlen) – Various Performers