This cycle of choral preludes is the first collection (of hopefully, more), composed and performed by Sabin Levi, on two magnificent instruments – the first, Hellmuth Wolff, op. 40 organ (1996) at the University of Kansas. The second – the organ of the church of Mary Magdalene, Paris (Cavaillé-coll (1846) - Mutin (1927) - Roethinger (1957) - Gonzalez (1971) - Dargassies (1988). All pieces are based on Sephardic folk songs – one for each choral, and two that are used in the Small Rhapsody for a chamber ensemble and organ, at the end of the album. In addition to some individual composer’s touches, Levi is using a number of Bachian polyphonic techniques. Here are some of them: Ornamented melody in soprano (Arvoles), canon on octave in accompanying voices against the cantus firmus (La rosa enflorese), canon on a third (Mama, yo no tengo visto II.), canon on a fifth (Secretos de mi alma), augmentations/diminutions (Mose salio le Mizraim), imitation between voices (Triste esto el rey David), choral fantasy in trio (Avri tu), mirror counterpoint (Bastonico de gevezli), etc. There are some genre emulations also, for example Tierce en taille (Bendicho El), Bicinium (El Gatico III.). Sabin Levi, DMA, FAGO, is an Associate professor of organ and music theory at the National Music Academy “Professor Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is active as a composer, organist, music author and educator. Program 1. Ah! El novio no queire dinero 2. Arvoles 3. Yo requerdo de esta noche – recorded in the Church of the Madeleine, Paris 4. Mose salio de Mizraim 5. Una matica de ruda 6. Secretos de mi alma 7. Bendicho El 8. Morenica I. – with Akiko Murakami, violin 9. Morenica II. 10. Triste Esto el Rey David 11. Avre tu perta cerrada 12. El Gatico I. 13. El Gatico II. 14. El Gatico III. 15. La rosa enflorese (Los bilbilicos) 16. Mama, yo no tengo visto I. 17. Mama, yo no tengo visto II. 18. Bastonico de gevezli 19. Yo requerdo de esta noche – recorded at the Hellmuth Wolff organ, Lawrence, Kansas 20. A small rhapsody: Povereta muchachica & El rabino Abuaf. University of Kansas chamber ensemble, director: Professor Charles Hoag. Tracks 1-7, 10-11, and 15-18 are recorded on the organ of the Church of the Madeleine, Paris, France. Tracks 8-9, 12-14 and 19-20 are recorded on the Hellmuth Wolff organ op. 40 in the University of Kansas at Lawrence, USA. Sound engineer: Pavel Stefanov