Off the Willows: The Rebirth of Modern Jewish Music

by Avraham Soltes

Off the Willows is a practical book about an inspiring subject. It tells the story of a remarkable renaissance, in our own time, of an art, whose practice goes back to the days of the Bible: Jewish Music. Through narrative essays and vignettes, the author describes the development of the past two generations and some of the men who have shaped it. He offers the community leader and the professional musician pragmatic direction for the future. Through the original choral readings and cantatas that comprise Part Three of this volume, he demonstrates the practical application of his views in creative writing that is fresh and stimulating.

Avraham Soltes has long been noted for his ability to distill complex problems to their essence and present them in an imaginative style, that any intelligent layman can follow. His interpretation of the many-mansioned history of Jewish music in two Do-It-Yourself lecture-recitals for youth From the Bible to Broadway is a masterpiece of the art of popularization. His discussions of musical problems are presented against a broad background of involvement in the general concerns of the contemporary Jewish community and a profound awareness of the problems for which music can offer some solution.

As a chairman of the National Jewish Music Council and through the other national offices in which he serves, he has worked intimately with the personalities and problems of the current Jewish musical scene. His discussions are saturated with a love of Judaism and a warm personal affection for the individuals who have shared it yesterday and today. Beneath the ardent, lively style, one senses a deep erudition in Hebraic and music lore, which make this volume, itself, a unique contribution to the very renaissance of Jewish music that the author so vividly witnesses.

311 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970