TORONTO, February 13, 1998 -- The world premiere recording of chamber music by Jewish composer Mordecai Sandberg will be launched at the Sandberg Centennial Celebration taking place March 1 at York University.

The Celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of Sandberg's birth will also include the Canadian concert premiere of four of his shorter chamber works. Introduced by Toronto scholar and conductor Charles Heller, the concert will feature pianist Stephen Clarke, violinist Marc Sabat and singer Honey Novick. The performance will be followed by a festive kosher reception.

Born in Romania, Mordecai Sandberg (1897-1973) began his career as a physician in Jerusalem, but soon became known as a pioneering composer and champion of new music. His many compositions, inspired by the Psalms and other portions of the Hebrew Bible, are written in an evocative personal style with extensive use of microtones and just intonation that has earned him a unique place in the history of 20th century music.

Sandberg's works were performed publicly in Germany and England during the 1930s and in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s, but since that time, there have been few opportunities to hear his music. The York University concert and the CD to be launched at the Sandberg Centennial Celebration will give audiences the chance to rediscover the work of this distinctive composer.

Mordecai Sandberg: Chamber Works presents four chamber pieces composed in the decade from 1938 and 1948, performed by six of Toronto's finest musicians: Adele Armin, James Wallenberg, Laura Wilcox, Richard Armin, Stephen Clarke and Marc Sabat. The album is adorned by paintings on Biblical texts created by the distinguished artist Hannah Sandberg, the composer's widow.

The recording is the collaborative work of three York University music professors. Recorded at York University by Michael Coghlan, with liner notes by Austin Clarkson, the CD was produced by Sterling Beckwith with the support of the Pro Musica Viva Foundation.

The Sandberg Centennial Celebration and CD launch is co-sponsored by Winters College, York University and Jewish Music - Toronto, with support from the Sandberg Recording Fund and the Centre for Jewish Studies, Department of Music and Faculty of Fine Arts at York University.

The Sandberg Centennial Celebration will take place on Sunday, March 1 starting at 5:00 p.m. in DACARY Hall, Room 050 McLaughlin College at York University, 4700 Keele Street. Admission is free. For more information, please call (416) 736-5493.

DETAILS:
Sandberg Centennial Celebration
Sunday, March 1, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
CD Launch and Concert: DACARY Hall, 050 McLaughlin College
Reception: Senior Common Room, 021 Winters College
York University

MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information or a review copy of the CD, please contact:

Brigitte Kleer
Faculty of Fine Arts
(416) 736-2100, ext. 77143
email: bkleer@yorku.ca

Cecily Bahar
Winters College
(416) 736-5493
email: cbahar@yorku.ca