Born in Geneva, Ernest Bloch moved to the United States in 1916. Although Bloch’s name is indelibly associated with his ‘Jewish works’ such as Schelomo (Naxos 8.550519), Suite hébraïque (Naxos 8.557151) and the Israel Symphony, his music underwent several changes of compositional style, exploring a varied melodic and harmonic language. The early, neo-romantic diptych Hiver- Printemps was Bloch’s first important work to be performed. Scored for string quintet, wind quintety and piano, Four Episodes consists of four short, highly individual and virtuosic movements. Concertino for flute, viola and strings and Suite Modale for flute and strings, written towards the end of Bloch’s life, provide a masterly demonstration of contrapuntal technique.