Ten works. Ten soundscapes. One unique voice.
With “Gefunden” (Found), Israeli-American composer Amos Elkana presents an extraordinary album that impressively reflects the diversity and depth of his work in contemporary music. The ten works, interpreted by outstanding soloists, range from poetic intimacy to virtuoso brilliance and electroacoustic soundscapes.
The title work Gefunden (2006) is a very personal homage to Elkana's grandmother, who recites Goethe's poem of the same name in German and Hebrew, capturing all the fractures, memories, and nuances of her life. From there, the album spans a range of radically different soundscapes: Cembalo Fractals and Cadenza unfold fascinating structures inspired by fractal geometry and rhythmic virtuosity, while Labyrinth explores the limits of pianistic expression in a single minute.
With Zanshin for four double basses and Mushin for flute and electronics, Elkana delves deeply into Far Eastern concepts of mindfulness and consciousness, weaving meditative silence with intense energy. Judgment Day takes a pointed political stance, offering a powerful examination of social tensions. Opus Focus and Prita combine instruments and electronics to create complex textures, and the duet Mostly Cloudy reflects on the events of October 7, 2023, in a touching dialogue between two violins.
Amos Elkana, born in Boston in 1967 and raised in Jerusalem, is one of the defining voices of contemporary new music. His works, performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, combine sound, language, and memory into an open, cosmopolitan dialogue.
“Gefunden” is more than a collection of pieces. It is an invitation to immerse oneself in ten very different yet intrinsically connected sound universes.
Programme
Amos Elkana (*1967)
Gefunden
Gefunden for electronics and voice (2006)
Miriam Keren, voice
Amos Elkana, electronics
Cembalo Fractals for harpsichord (2017)
Hagai Yodan, harpsichord
Labyrinth for piano (2019)
Hagai Yodan, piano
Zanshin for four double basses (2020)
Eran Borovich, double bass
Judgment Day for bassoon (2020)
Nadav Cohen, bassoon
Opus Focus for percussion and electronics (2018)
Oded Geizhals, percussion
Amos Elkana, electronics
Mostly Cloudy for two violins (2023)
Talia Herzlich & Michael Pavia, violin
Mushin for flute and electronics (2020)
Hagar Shaha, flute
Amos Elkana, electronics
Prita for electric guitar and electronics (2018)
Nadav Lev, electric guitar
Amos Elkana, electronics
Cadenza for piano (2018)
Amit Dolberg, piano
Total time: 59:25
First recordings
Biographies
Amos Elkana is a composer, guitarist, and electronic musician. His work navigates the tense terrain between sound, language, and memory. Elkana was born in Boston in 1967 and grew up in Jerusalem. He studied jazz guitar at Berklee College of Music, composition at New England Conservatory, and electronic music at Bard College, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA). His artistic voice was shaped by exchanges with figures such as György Kurtág, Peter Eötvös, George Lewis, Helmut Lachenmann, Josef Tal, and Pauline Oliveros.
Although he holds American, German, and Israeli citizenship, Elkana does not identify with any single nation. Inspired by the cosmopolitan ethos of philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, he views identity as a process of dialogue rooted in openness, complexity, and a shared ethical vision. This perspective fuels his creative work: multilingual texts, intercultural collaborations, and compositions that seek resonance across borders. For Elkana, music is a meeting place where stories collide, tensions are revealed, and understanding emerges.
His compositions—ranging from orchestral, chamber, and vocal music to electroacoustic works—have been performed by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, and the Meitar Ensemble at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
Elkana has received commissions from the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, the Berliner Festspiele, the Israel Council for the Arts, and the Rabinovich Foundation. His most significant works include the clarinet concerto Tru’a recorded by Grammy winner Richard Stoltzman, Arabic Lessons, a multilingual song cycle that won the ACUM Golden Feather Award, and the opera The Journey Home, which premiered in Munich.
His other awards include the Israeli Prime Minister's Prize for Composition and the Rozenblum Prize for outstanding artists and creators. Throughout his career, Elkana has repeatedly addressed issues of identity, history, and coexistence, viewing music not only as a means of expression but also as a space for reflection, challenge, and connection.
More information
Catalog number: NEOS 12528
EAN: 4260063125287
