Abigale Reisman's GEDANKEN

Artists: Abigale Reisman with Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band and orchestra

BFNJM Season Premiere: Chamber arrangement premiered 2021-22 at the Boston Synagogue. Adapted for orchestra and premiered by Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band with Maestro Joshua Weilerstein and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra in September 2024.

A series of serendipitious pandemic-era experiences led composer Abigale Reisman to develop her GEDANKEN from a meditative solo violin piece to a chamber music setting in the first season of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, then an adaptation for klezmer trio and strings with Boston's Phoenix Orchestra, and finally a commission from Maestro Joshua Weilerstein and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra to turn it into a concerto for klezmer band and full orchestra.

GEDANKEN for Klezmer Band and Orchestra was premiered in September 2024 at the House of Music in Aalborg, Denmark and is now available for touring.

GEDANKEN is a striking addition in the orchestra repertoire. Unlike so many works that incorporate klezmer sounds into the symphony, it treats the traditional Ashkenazi instrumental music not as nostalgic kitsch but rather as a fully developed and rich musical language with which to engage. Reisman's deep experience as a professional klezmer musician informs her relationship with Ashkenazi modality, rhythm, and phrasing. Alongside virtuosic moments for the soloists, Reisman spends much of the piece crafting a vibe that situates the klezmer ensemble inside and alongside the orchestra; the orchestra functions more as an extension of the klezmer ensemble than as accompaniment. 

Listen to Reisman talk about GEDANKEN, klezmer music, and the violin in her interview on Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast to learn more: https://stickynotespodcast.libsyn.com/an-exploration-of-klezmer-music-w-abigale-reisman.

GEDANKEN is available for performance with Abigale Reisman and Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band as soloists for any orchestra. It is particularly well-suited for a residency with university or high level amateur orchestra, allowing students to take advantage of addition sessions with the composer and soloists over the course of multiple days.

Sample residency activities includes orchestra rehearsals, composer talk, workshop and masterclass on klezmer performance, yiddish dance lesson and dance party, recital by the quartet, and orchestra concerts.

Here are just a few reasons why GEDANKEN would be an excellent addition to any orchestra's programming:

- New work by living female American composer

- Opportunity to have the composer as soloist and available for coaching throughout the semester

- Access point to music from a distinct musical culture with its own modes and rhythms, but very accessible to students familiar with the orchestral canon

- Option for workshops and masterclasses on klezmer music, composition, and Yiddish culture, or additional recital performance by the soloists

- Potential for collaboration with other departments and student groups, e.g. Hillel, Jewish studies, diaspora studies

Booking Contact: Nat Seelen nat@bostonjewishmusic.org

Performer Biographies

Abigale Reisman

Abigale Reisman is a violinist, composer, improviser, and educator. She is a co-founder of Thread Ensemble, an experimental trio that creates music out of interactions with their audiences. She is a member of Tredici Bacci, which was featured in Rolling Stone's "10 Artists You Need to Know: November 2016". She is also a composer, arranger, and performer in the International Jewish Music Festival award winning band, Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band. 

Abigale earned her Bachelor's degree at The Manhattan School of Music in Classical Violin Performance and went on to receive her Master's degree at The New England Conservatory in Contemporary Improvisation. She has toured the world performing klezmer, classical, pop, and experimental music. Abigale has had the privilege to share the stage with great musicians such as Father John Misty, David Krakauer, Amanda Palmer, Jeffery Zeigler, Sarah Jarosz, Hankus Netsky, The Ballroom Thieves, and Anthony Coleman. 

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band is one of the world's preeminent klezmer ensembles. Recent season highlights include performing as soloist with Maestro Joshua Weilerstein and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra (DK) in Abigale Reisman's Gedanken for klezmer band and orchestra, StetlFest (CZ), the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MA), and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (DC).

Their music has been featured on television in the Netherlands and Brazil, on the Boston Jewish Music Festival’s compilation album, and a feature length film, in addition to their eight albums.

The Wheels have performed with Hankus Netsky, David Broza, Paula Cole, Jill Sobule, BETTY, and many more collaborators from the klezmer world and beyond. When they’re not playing klezmer, they can be found backing up such household names as Eminem, Hugh Jackman, Weird Al Yankovic, Amanda Palmer, and Chris Botti, and holding down the pit orchestras of musical theater shows across New England.