Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s greatest composer died fifty years ago today.  On July 15th, 1959, Ernest Bloch died of cancer in Portland. 

This was after nearly 20 years of composing on the Oregon coast. 

His home in Agate Beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and you can sometimes hear the majestic sweep of that vista in his music.

There are more opportunities to hear Bloch’s music than normal this summer. 

Many organizations are presenting special performances of Bloch’s music around the state. 

Governor Kulongoski has even proclaimed July as Ernest Bloch Awareness Month. 

I recently chatted with Bloch’s grandson Ernest Bloch II, who goes by Ernie.  He says – for the first dozen or so years of his life – he didn’t know Bloch as anything but Grandfather.

Our colleagues at Oregon Art Beat produced a video of Chamber Music Northwest performing Bloch’s From Jewish Life: Three Sketches for Cello and Piano.

Watch it here.