Amy Barlowe’s arrangement of the song, “Hatikvah (The Hope)” for Two Violins is a perfect encore piece. Emotionally powerful and filled with the nostalgia that emanates from love, it will pull at the heartstrings of all who hear it and remind them of the universal strength of “Hope”. “Hatikvah” for Two Violins will be a long remembered gift for the hearts of all audiences.

Background

Based on a Central European folk song, Hatikvah’s text was written by the poet, Nephtali Herz Imber in 1878 and set to music between 1887 and 1888 by Samuel Cohen. The song was written to represent the heartfelt wish of the Jewish people to return to their families’ homeland.

Although the melody of Hatikvah may seem inherently sad, the text and spirit actually are both uplifting and optimistic. In fact, the folk song on which it was based was derived from a ca.17th century Italian melody so popular that it appeared in many compositions from a Slovenian children’s song to Bedřich Smetana’s symphonic poem, “The Moldau”.

Click here to listen to a recording of Amy Barlowe and Alan Bodman performing Hatikvah for Two Violins.