he Second International Festival of Art Music, which is th ed held on the occasion of Odessa bi-centennial celebrations, G is dedicated to the performance of original Jewish music composed in A the 20th Century. T] N At the basis of the Festival of Jewish Art Music is the idea of ot presenting a unique retrospective of the Jewish art music in the last Sc hundred years. The festival will present works by Jewish composers, re who have deep roots in the Jewish way of life, and their music has K its origins in the Bible, Jewish prayers and folklore and in the traditions of the various Western and Eastern communities. A "F The Festival and the Symposium of Jewish Music were established as be a central forum in order to: fo m Provide composers from all over the world with the opportunity of to perform their works; mm Enable the complete ränge of musicians to perform together — • from soloists up to full orchestras and staged operas; al m Create a framework for the research, elaboration and - documentation of the problems confronting Jewish musical culture. (Si Music lies deep-rooted in the cultural soil of nations more than any C other art. All the various elements of national character are A. inevitably reflected - consciously or subconsciously - in the music. In Dt this respect, Jewish music is exceptionally rieh; the Jewish heritage S1 is not the exclusive domain of the Jewish people but is shared by Sc people of many cultures and creeds. w A generations-old musical tradition - both religious and secular - enabled the Jews to play an important role in the development of European music. The French Revolution and the liberalization of Europe made it possible for Jewish musicians and composers to reach