Canon
Where to start with Bloch
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralSchelomo, rhapsody for cello and orchestra
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ChamberPiano Quintet no. 1
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KeyboardPiano Sonata
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VocalAmerica: An Epic Rhapsody, for chorus and orchestra
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StageMacbeth — Opera
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OrchestralConcerto grosso no. 1, for string orchestra and piano
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Chamber2 Pieces for Viola and Piano
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Orchestral3 Jewish Poems, suite
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Chamber3 Nocturnes for Piano Trio
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Keyboard4 Circus Pieces
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Chamber4 Episodes, for chamber orchestra
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ChamberAbodah: a Yom Kippur melody, for violin and piano
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VocalAvodath Hakodesh, for baritone, chorus, and orchestra
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ChamberBaal Shem: 3 Pictures of Hassidic life, for violin and piano
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OrchestralConcertino for Flute, Viola and Strings
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Bloch's catalogueMost Popular
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Schelomocello + orchestra — Solomonic meditation
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Sacred Service (Avodath Hakodesh)
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Suite hébraïqueviola or violin + orchestra
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Violin Sonata No. 1
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Baal Shem Suite
Most Acclaimed
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String Quartet No. 2
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Piano Quintet No. 1
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Violin Sonata No. 1
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Schelomo
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America — Epic Rhapsodyends with audience singing ”America” — he was serious
Most Weird
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America — Epic Rhapsodyrequires audience participation — they sing ”America” at the end
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Piano Sonatavery harsh and percussive — unlike his orchestral works
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Four Episodes for chamber orchestra
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Sonata for Piano No. 1the most dissonant thing he wrote
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Sinfonia Breve
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 67
- Orchestral
- ● Schelomo, rhapsody for cello and orchestra
- Concerto grosso no. 1, for string orchestra and piano
- 3 Jewish Poems, suite
- Concertino for Flute, Viola and Strings
- Concerto grosso no. 2, for string quartet and string orchestra
- Concerto symphonique, for piano and orchestra
- Evocations, suite
- Hiver - Printemps, 2 symphonic poems
- In Memoriam, elegy for orchestra
- In the Night
- Poems of the Sea
- Proclamation, for trumpet and orchestra
- Scherzo fantasque, for piano and orchestra
- Sinfonia breve
- Suite hébraïque, for viola and orchestra
- Suite modale, for flute and strings
- Suite symphonique
- Symphony for Trombone and Orchestra
- Symphony in C sharp minor
- Symphony in E flat major
- Violin Concerto
- Voice in the Wilderness, symphonic poem for cello and orchestra
- Chamber
- Piano Quintet no. 1
- 2 Pieces for Viola and Piano
- 3 Nocturnes for Piano Trio
- 4 Episodes, for chamber orchestra
- Abodah: a Yom Kippur melody, for violin and piano
- Baal Shem: 3 Pictures of Hassidic life, for violin and piano
- Exotic Night, for violin and piano
- In the Mountains, for string quartet
- Meditation Hébraïque, for cello and piano
- Melody, for violin and piano
- Night, for string quartet
- Paysages, for string quartet
- Prelude, for string quartet
- Quintet for Piano and Strings no. 1
- Quintet for Piano and Strings no. 2
- String Quartet no. 1
- String Quartet no. 2
- String Quartet no. 3
- String Quartet no. 4
- String Quartet no. 5
- Suite for Solo Viola
- Suite for Viola and Piano
- Suite hébraïque, for viola and piano
- Suite modale, for flute and strings
- Suite no. 1 for Solo Cello
- Suite no. 1 for Solo Violin
- Suite no. 2 for Solo Cello
- Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin
- Suite no. 3 for Solo Cello
- Violin Sonata no. 1
- Violin Sonata no. 2, "Poème mystique"
- Keyboard
- Piano Sonata
- 4 Circus Pieces
- Danse sacrée
- Enfantines, 10 Children's pieces
- Ex-voto
- Nirvana, poem
- Visions and Prophecies
- Visions and Prophecies, for piano
- Vocal
- America: An Epic Rhapsody, for chorus and orchestra
- Avodath Hakodesh, for baritone, chorus, and orchestra
- Poèmes d'automne, 4 songs for mezzo and orchestra
- Prelude and 2 Psalms, for soprano and orchestra
- Psalm 22, for alto and orchestra
- Stage
- Macbeth — Opera