Sarah Feigin

Sarah Feigin (; ; 1 July 1928 – 24 April 2011) was a Latvian music educator and composer who lived and worked in Israel.

Early life Sarah Kugel was born in Latvia, and studied piano and composition at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music originally known as the Riga Conservatory of Music. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees. A Holocaust survivor, she moved to Israel in 1972 and founded a Conservatory of Music in Holon in 1973, working as its director until 1983. Feigin worked for "Jeunesses Musicales d'Israel" from 1973 to 1990, organizing concerts for youth. Her music has been performed internationally.

Musical achievements Feigin taught children as well as at music education institutions when she lived in Israel. Her preferred instruments were the organ and piano when composing music. Her work has been published by the Israel Music Institute and her pieces have been on the Israeli radio on a regular basis. Feigin composed pieces such as chamber music, music for piano, educational pieces, songs for ballets, and vocal music.

In 2000, Feigin received an award for her work Thoughts On Playing at the International Composition Competition in Miami, Florida.

She has written songs for the piano that involve four hands and up to six hands at once. Some pieces include: Shoshana, for piano 6 hands Composed in 1995 Tumbalalaika, for piano 4 hands Composed in 1995 Yism'chu Hashamayim, for piano 4 hands Composed in 1996 Four Hits, arr. for piano 4 hands Composed in 2001

On 9 October 2012, an album called Clarinet Repertoire Of Women Composers was released, and the last song is the Fantasia for Clarinet and Piano by Sarah Feigin – Written in 1996, in Israel.

In 2018, the album "Piano Works by Sara Feigin" was released. The recording focuses on her solo piano music and mostly includes either unperformed or previously unrecorded works, many based on traditional folk songs. The pieces are performed by British-born and Israeli-based pianist Benjamin Goodman.

Personal life Sarah's birth name was Sarah Kugel, which changed when she married Oscar Feigin, a professor of polymer chemistry. Sarah gave birth to Ilana and Carmela, leaving Latvia in 1972 to help her family emigrate to Israel. This gave her a new sense of creativity, which led to some of her compositions to have certain elements of Israeli folk music. She died in Holon, Israel, on 24 April 2011, of a serious illness.

Works She has published arrangements of Israeli songs and progressive pedagogical studies. Selected works and their years composed include:

Autumn Song, for alto-saxophone & piano – 2003 Awakening, for 2 clarinets and Piano – 2005 Balayla al Hadashe (At night on the grass) arr. For piano 4 hands – 2001 Beauty of Songs, for voice & piano – 1997 Bei mir bis du shein arr. For piano 4 hands – 2001 Besame Mucho (Kiss me again) arr. For piano 4 hands – 2001 Caravan, for flute, clarinet & piano – 1995 Concerto for Clarinet & String Orchestra – 2001 Elegie in Memoriam Yitzhak Rabin, for piano trio – 1995 Fantasia for Clarinet & Piano – 1996 Fantasia for Clarinet and String Quartet – 2009 String Quartet, Solo instrument + ensemble Fantasia for Flute & Harp – 2005 Fantasia For Two Clarinets & Piano – 1999 Festive Songs For Piano, Book III, solo piano – 1989 Four Hits, arr. for piano 4-hands, solo piano – 2001 Four Scenes, for piano – 1992 Humoresque and Habanera, for violin and piano – 1991 In The Name Of..., for voice & piano – 2001 Kaleidoscope, for orchestra – 2002 Kyle-Yana, for alto-saxophone & piano – 2002 Listen, symphonic poem, for solo voice & symphony orchestra – 1973 Lugubre, for cello & piano – 1995 Nigunim, for clarinet & piano – 1998 Playing Together, Songs for Piano 4 hand – 2002 Prayer for violin and piano – 1987 Reflections on a Niggun for clarinet and piano – 1999 Reflections on a Niggun for violin and piano – 1999 Rhapsody for Cello and Piano – 2000 Russian Dance for symphony orchestra – 1969 Shoshana for Piano, 6 hands – 1995 Sonata for piano – 1972 Sonata for violin and piano – 1976 Songs for Piano No. 1, first steps for young pianists – 1989 Songs for Piano No. 2, first steps for young pianists – 1989 Spring Song, for alto saxophone and piano – 2003 The Book of Animals, ten easy piano pieces – 1994 The Book of Animals No. 2, six pieces for piano – 1996 The Cat's House, Opera for Children – 1987 Tumbalalaika, for piano 4 hands – 1995 Two Pieces for Piano – 2003 Valse Fantasia, for violin & piano – 1997 Variations, for piano – 2002 Viva España, arr. For piano 4 hands – 2001 When Peace Comes, for two violins – 1997 Yism'chu Hashamayim, for piano 4 hands – 1996