"One of the great virtues, apart from the pleasure of performing these works, is that it's opened up an entirely new, expansive repertoire of American Jewish music"

Neville Marriner’s reflection points to both a personal and communal transformation encountered through engagement with American Jewish music. The act of performing these works is described as a pleasure, suggesting a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from the art itself. Yet, beyond the intrinsic enjoyment, there lies a more profound virtue: the expansion of repertoire. The phrase “entirely new, expansive repertoire” signals discovery, innovation, and a broadening of horizons, an introduction to musical works that perhaps have long existed but remained underrecognized or underperformed in mainstream concert traditions.

Marriner’s observation can be seen as a commentary on both artistic curiosity and cultural enrichment. By bringing American Jewish music to performance spaces, he and his peers are not merely satisfying their own artistic interests; they are also performing an act of cultural reclamation and celebration. American Jewish music, rich in heritage and diversity, has been shaped by the Jewish diaspora’s encounter with American life, fusing old-world motifs, spiritual yearnings, folk resonance, and modern influences. Performing such a repertoire serves to bridge different traditions, creating dialogue between the past and present, between identity and expression.

Furthermore, the emergence of this music into wider performance circles challenges existing notions about the scope of classical and orchestral music. It underlines the value of inclusion, recognizing that musical greatness does not belong to a narrow canon but is found whenever talented composers and dedicated performers create and interpret works deeply rooted in individual and collective histories. For audiences and musicians alike, the opening of this repertoire cultivates appreciation for cultural narratives that might otherwise remain hidden. Marriner’s words ultimately evoke the idea that discovery and openness, not only produce artistic pleasure but also grow the very landscape of musical possibility, making space for all stories and traditions to be heard and valued.