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Margot Leverett is this amazing clarinet player, one of the founding members of the Klezmatics, an amazing traditional clarinetist (see her CD of Beckerman's tunes, "Art of the Klezmer Clarinet"). Tonight (Sat, Mat 31) she'll be appearing in Great Barrington, MA at Club Helsinki. In honor of the occasion, Seth Rogovoy has done this dynamite interview for the Berkshire Eagle. Enjoy!
No one who has heard his playing can forget it. Joseph Moskowitz, expert on the Hungarian cymbalom, was one of the early Jewish recording artists in this country. A descendent has started gathering memorabilia, and the KlezmerShack is proud to host this page, "Remembering Joseph Moskowitz."
If you have memoriabilia, or stories to share, send them to Scott I. Rosenthal: SIRCPA@aol.com
A recent inquiry on the Jewish-music mailing list led to this wonderful summary of Italian Jewish Music by Francesco Spagnolo. I don't think that there is online information about Italian Jewish music (certainly not in English), anywhere else, so I am especially pleased to have Francesco's permission to make this available on the KlezmerShack.
And, for the record, there's more to it than Rossi, and Italians didn't do klezmer. They had their own musical traditions, more, er, Italian!
It is nice to be at a point where the KlezmerShack can feature articles by people who listen to and are interested in music about which I know nothing. My goal is to ensure that people who love Jewish music can spread the word about things that may be worth listening to. The more voices, and the more diverse ways of considering the subject there are, the better.
In that vein, Chicago writer Stewart Cherlin, who did a year end wrapup back in 1997 has recently contributed an article on Rabbi Joe Black
And, stepping into the breach to write about related non-Jewish music that will be of interest to KlezmerShack readers, Roger Reid contributes a review of the new album by cymbalist Alexander Fedoriouk, "Crossing Paths." Fedoriouk is familiar to many klezmer aficionados for his work on recent albums by Sy Kushner and others. He is also a member of the Cleveland-based world music band, Harmonia, in which Khevrisa violinist Steve Greenman (as well as former Budowitz co-member Walt Mahalovich) also finds a home.
I have been trying to dig myself out from under the accumulated mountain of incredible music, as well.
One of my favorite "traditional" klezmer albums these past few months has been a delightful album from the Montreal-based band, Shtreiml. What makes this unusual, and causes me to put the word "traditional" in quotes is the use of the harmonica as the primary solo instrument. Once you hear the music, however, I trust that you, too, will be a Harmonica Galitzianer
One of the latest releases from Tzadik is Jon Madof's first recording with his Jewish-derived jazz band, "Rashanim". Although the band is named for the noisemakers used on Purim to drown out the sound of Haman's name, the jazz is anything but. The mix of Jewish, as well as other music sources is well done and a joy to the ears.
The European Association for Jewish Culture, an independent grant-making body, offers grants to artists in the following fields:
PERFORMING ARTS
New works for the stage linked to a performance
Applications for grants are invited from playwrights, theatre directors or choreographers based in Europe for new work for the stage dealing with the Jewish experience. Applications must be submitted in association with a theatre or a recognized cultural venue.
Composition of new music linked to a performance and/or recording
Applications are invited from musicians based in Europe for composition of new works with a Jewish theme. Applications must be submitted in association with a concert venue, promoter or recording company.
VISUAL ARTS
Applications are invited from artists based in Europe for exhibitions of photography, painting, sculpture and electronic art reflecting the Jewish experience. The exhibition must be held in association with a recognized cultural venue.
Guidelines, closing dates and application forms are published on www.jewishcultureineurope.org/schedule.htm
web: www.jewishcultureineurope.org
email: london@jewishcultureineurope.org
Every so often we get e-mail, or the Jewish-music mailing list gets e-mail about someone participating in, or doing something interesting that we want to share as widely as possible. Narratives get placed on our "mailto:" page, and I invite readers to peruse Mary Lowther's short account of a ceremony dedicating a synagogue addition at "the oldest Jewish house of worship in continuous use in Canada". The piece was originally posted to the Jewish-music mailing list in response to a query about whether or not Jews still do "Jewish" dancing.
Moshe Berlin found this and posted it to the Jewish-Music mailing list. For those of us who read Hebrew, there is a nice article about Klezmer music and klezmer in Israel, featuring an interview with Zev Feldman, in "Makor Rishon":
Archeologist of a Jewish Sub-Culture", datelined Apr 16, 2003.
But where is the article about Moshe Berlin, surely the embodiment of Israeli klezmer traditions as brought over to Israel by 18th century hasidim? That is printed in this article, from "Mekor Rishon," May 23, 2003 (also in Hebrew):
A few weeks ago, Elliott Simon wrote to the Jewish-Music mailing list:
... I posted to the list regarding any knowledge of Jewish themed Cello recordings. Since that time, I have received a copy of a wonderful CD by Richard Locker entitled "Jewish Cello Masterpieces"..It is a mix of classical(pardon my use of genre, *smile*, yes I know Bruch and Bloch arent technically "classical" my daughter continues to remind me when I make such a faux paux),Yiddish Theatre and other goodies. It is basically a great CD......you can see my review at.... www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0503_074.htm
This has been happening each summer for the past few years. Now it has an official name. It is an amazing experience:
The Hankus Netsky Summer Klezmer Institute
Monday-Thursday, July 21-24, 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday, July 25, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Hankus Netsky, director
The Hankus Netsky Summer Klezmer Institute will provide students with a comprehensive hands-on introduction to the world of Eastern European Jewish Music. Workshops will include classes in Klezmer history and modal theory, and ensembles. Related topics include Hassidic song, Cantorial music, and Yiddish folk, theater, and art songs. We will also explore Yiddish and Klezmer ethnography, in interview sessions with local eastern-European performers and learn directly from world-renowned guest lecturers.
Registration: www.newenglandconservatory.edu/summer, or call the Summer School Director at (617) 585-1126 for further information.
Workshops will include:
The institute will include a public performance at NEC Thursday, July 24, featuring staff and participants.
Faculty: Hankus Netsky, director (NEC); Michael Alpert (vocals, violin, accordian, percussion, dance); German Goldenshteyn (clarinet); Frank London (brass instruments, Hassidic music, arranging)
Registration: www.newenglandconservatory.edu/summer, or call the Summer School Director at (617) 585-1126 for further information.
To see the complete NEC Summer School catalogue online, visit our Web site at www.newenglandconservatory.edu/summer or call the Summer School office at 617-585-1130 for a hard copy.
There was considerable discussion about Levy on the Jewish-music mailing list. First off, there was some rejoicing that Levy is, in fact, performing the songs using traditional instrumentation, and the expected scorn at those who are so used to international folk music with guitar and sound-alikes, that they don't recognize tradition when they see it, second, of course, lots of people think that she sings like an angel, and third, there was some discussion about an event referred to in the article in which her father's field recordings were all destroyed after he died, because he didn't want his transcriptions argued with. This was felt to be cultural vandalism of a nasty sort. Want to know more? Check out the article and her recordings!
It's a first, I think - Jewish hip hop on national television! The band reports:
"This weekend the syndicated television program Urban Latino TV will air a special segment on Hip Hop Hoodios. Look for Latino-Jewish hiphop to invade the sanctity of your living room on ABC, CBS, or FOX in your city (schedule below)....and to our fans in Los Angeles and San Francisco, we apologize for the unusually early broadcast time - set your VCR's (or drink a case of Red Bull) so you don't miss the show."
Chicago Sunday (late Saturday night) 12:30AM - CBS
ch. 2
Los Angeles Sunday - 5:30AM ABC ch. 7
Miami Monday - 2:00AM (late Sunday night) - CBS ch.
4 -
New York Saturday - 12:00Midnight CBS ch. 2
San Diego Monday (late Sunday night) 12:30AM FOX
ch. 6
San Francisco Sunday 6:30AM ABC ch. 7
I thank Michael Spudic for forwarding to me the URL for this very thoughtful review of the stunning new Klezmatics CD, "Rise Up":
R. L. Reid writes to the Jewish-Music mailing list, this morning:
Nachum Segal's radio program on AM 620 in New York City will be carrying a live feed from Meron tonight at 7 PM Eastern time - therefore the sounds of Lag BOmer in Meron at 2 AM Israel time.
There does seem to be a live web link for listening but I've never tried it - www.nachumradio.com I would suspect it might not be handle to handle a large number of connections.
It's worth trying to get the broadcast, though. This is one of the purest streams of traditional klezmer still extant - the Meron tradition represents the tradition of Jewish wedding music, as brought from Eastern Europe by Hasidim in the 18th century (is my memory for history correct on this? I seem to remember this as the big hasidic emigration to Tzfat, rebuilding what had once been a thriving center a few centuries earlier, prior to an earthquake that marked the end of the Tzfat of Luria and his peers - but I am not at home, and not near a library to quickly reference this), and as it has evolved there.
I can't get away from Chicago. Of course, when the bands are this good--Duo Controverso, or today's featured Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, who would want to leave?
One of the first exciting klezmer revival recordings I purchased, nearly 20 years ago, was Maxwell St's first album. It opened with the flute playing "Mi Yimalel" and then blasted into klezmer. They haven't stopped since, and this album, last year's "Old Roots, New World," is the best yet.
www.klezmershack.com/bands/maxwellst/oldnew/maxwellst.oldnew.html
Rebetika (aka "rembetika") is the greek answer to fado ;-). It's close enough to klezmer that I want to spread the word.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are invited to attend our Third International Weekend Conference
"RESEARCHING REBETIKA:
Present Projects and Future Prospects"
to be held at the Melina Mercouri Hall on the Island of Hydra, near Athens,
on
Thursday 16 October - Sunday 19 October 2003
See our website at: www.geocities.com/HydraGathering
++ The Hydra Rebetiko Gathering is an annual event, held in the third week
of October on the Island of Hydra. It is attended by people from all over
the world, Greeks and non-Greeks alike. We combine academic research,
performance and workshop sessions related to Greek music and Rebetiko in
particular.
++ In recent years there has been a great upsurge in interest in Rebetiko.
Books have been written. Biographies of the leading exponents have been
prepared. Films and TV documentaries have been made. Historic archive
recordings have been issued. And a new generation of performers has been
reviving the tradition in the clubs.
++ Our Conference brings together the main researchers and writers in the
field of Rebetiko, together with films and documentaries, and singers and
musicians who perform songs old and new. The Conference is open to everyone
interested in Rebetiko music. We aim to generate and circulate
Rebetiko-related materials in the English language, for the benefit of
non-Greeks and for Greeks in the diaspora who do not read or speak Greek.
++ We are particularly concerned to identify the roots of Rebetiko in the
wider area of the Mediterranean basin, and in Anatolia in particular. In the
past two years we have brought musicians and singers from Turkey who have
helped explore the roots.
++ Each year's Conference has a sub-theme. This year's will be
"Women and Rebetiko, and the Rebetiko Women "
++ In order to maintain the intimate atmosphere of the Gathering we are
limiting registrations to about 120. Therefore it is recommended that you
book early. The registration fee is £25 / 40 euros / $36 per person. Full
details of the Hydra Gathering are on our website at
http://www.geocities.com/HydraGathering.
If you wish to register to attend the conference, please send your details
by e-mail to rebetology@yahoo.com
by mail to:
Ed Emery
[Hydra Rebetiko Gathering]
Peterhouse,
Cambridge CB2 1RD
UK
or by fax to: 0044 [0] 870 133 0145
My first conversation with Kurt Bjorling took place almost ten years ago and had much to do with the difficulty of being the "other" Chicago klezmer band (Kurt co-founded the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble), and a lot to do with the tapes of Naftule Brandwein that he was passing around to fellow musicians who had no access at the time to Brandwein's amazing and influential repertoire.
Bjorling's exploration of klezmer, and then beyond, all of Eastern European Jewish music has been profound and influential. On this newest recording, he and his wife, harpist Annette Bjorling, take all of that: klezmer, nusakh, nign, and meld it into a delightful, thoughtful, articulate and gentle album of clarinet-harp duos.
Although many klezmer fans will enjoy this album, I think the people who will most enjoy it are those who have been more interested in classical music, or cantorial music or hassidic nign. There is less of the dance party here and more of a spiritual journey. You can read the entire review at http://www.klezmershack.com/bands/bjorling/gedanken/bjorling.gedanken.html
Nah, this doesn't have anything to do with Klezmer or Music. Think of this as one of those "meta moments" when I talk about stuff that is about the framework--the klezmershack, itself, rather than about klezmer and Jewish music--the reasons that there is a klezmershack. I'm trying to drum up some thought and some action. Until someone else gets serious, this is the only website out there offering an RSS newsfeed that has anything to do with Jewish arts or culture (well, JewSchool is pretty fun).
But here's the incentive to start one. Download one of these nifty RSS Aggregators. You subscribe to all of the RSS feeds that you want, and you can quickly browse all of the latest headlines in seconds. (The KlezmerShack's feed URL is www.klezmershack.com/index.rdf)
So, you guys listening there at the other big Klezmer sites? RAS? KlezmerUK? You folks in Sweden and Germany? Everyone writing a Jewish blog who sometimes writes about Jewish arts and culture? Let's share stories the easy way! This sure makes webrings look as stupid as they've always been, eh?
RSS feed aggregators are a lot like the netnews readers that were useful 10 years ago back when usenet still often contained content worth following. I first got turned onto the subject when friends on Macs kept raving about this new too, NetNewsWire, that was the slickest thing under the sun. There's an interesting article about these RSS News Readers (what I call RSS Aggregators, probably incorrectly) at Dive Into Mark that was sent to me by Louis Bennett, who works here at Tufts with me (and who hasn't had the time or vanity for a personal blog or homepage, yet. Ask me sometime about the useful stuff he's written, though.)
I haven't had time to install NetNewsWire on my Mac at home, which I've been using mostly for audio and graphics (and precious little of either, given my schedule lately). Sheesh, I've just paid for MacSSH! But here's the URL: ranchero.com/netnewswire/.
There is lots of discussion about Windows RSS News Readers, but no one is as excited about anything the way they are excited about the Mac. But, that's why people who use computers for the pleasure of creating stuff use Macs--that's where the fun is. But if you use Windows as I do much of the time, what I'm working with now is something called "SharpReader." So far, it seems pretty good. The URL is: www.hutteman.com/weblog/2003/04/06.html#000056
If you are like me and enjoy creating content, and have the time to do so, the easiest way to generate RSS is to use a weblog tool, such as the one I use here on the KlezmerShack, Moveable Type. It has made providing news much more fun, it's made it easy to update this part of the site, and the RSS is just a side-effect--Moveable Type generates a couple of styles automatically.
Enjoy!
Among his many projects, Michael McLaughlin, of Shirim Klezmer Orchestra teaches a klezmer group at Tufts University. The band recently gave a dance concert, and as often happens, I fell asleep and missed it. But I was curious, so I e-mailed him about attendance, dancing, and the like:
... My question, though, is whether there was a good turnout and whether folks danced, and if they danced, whether it was some identifiable variant of traditional Jewish folkdancing, or the usual hora mixed in with whatever.
(Meta question: can I find any data points of college interest in Yiddish/klezmer folk dancing.)
To which he replied:
When the dancing started we had about 25 people and most stayed and danced for the forty-five minutes we did it.
As for the dances, Angela Schatz did a mix of Israeli and Klezmer (Freylachs with different steps, and patch tanz.) We were going to do the sher but ran out of time and steam as it had been along night of concertizing and dancing.
Meta answer: You might, it all depends on connecting with the kids....
So, what do you think? If your college regularly (or irregularly) runs dances at which klezmer bands play, what is it like? Do people know Yiddish folk dances? Are they taught? Is there interest? And how often is klezmer played, vs., say, spinning records for Israeli folk dancing (or both together)? Post comments and let me know what you think or what you've observed.
Rainlore's World of Jewish Music calls our attention to a new site design by the UK's Jewish Music Distribution Co. Although there is still no shopping cart feature (you order by pasting the vital info into an e-mail and sending it off, or by calling), the site is less harsh on the eyes than some of the other online Jewish music websites. I don't know the old design, but it is reasonably easy to find information and to find albums, now. Compare to Hatikvah or Tara Music, both based in the USA. The JMD site also showcases links to vital UK Jewish arts and culture pages, which is nice. I'd still like to know why the one group of people supposedly earning money off of Jewish music (sadly, the artists certainly aren't) - the CD stores - have the least attractive, least functional websites. This one is at least reasonably attractive, and Jewish music fans in the UK, or in Europe, should know that there are local sources of good music.
RAS also notes that the e-mail address for JMD has changed. The current e-mail address is: orders@jewishmusic-jmd.co.
Self-proclaimed "Renaissance Man," Richard A. Sharma raves about the latest Tzadik release by Koby Israelite. Tzadik Records describes the new release as a combination of "Cantorial Death Metal, Nino Rota Klezmer, Balkan Surf, Catskills free improvisation". It's gotten my attention, and I'm looking forward to listening to it, myself. You can head straight for the review (okay, I would format the pages differently, which would make them differently hard-to-read) at www.rainlore.demon.co.uk/Reviews/KobyIsraelite-DanceOfTheIdiots.html
RAS has accumulated an impressive set of reviews, as well as uploaded archives on early Jewish European music star, Guzikov. Knock at Rainlore's World of Music, at www.rainlore.demon.co.uk/WorldOfMusic.html
As I try to catch up, I am happily snowed under by even more incredible music. Here is a taste:
Italy's Klezroym have put together an incredibly powerful album, "Yankele nel Ghetto," based on Gila Flam's collection of songs from the Lodz Ghetto. Notes in Italian and English.
Rob Burger's recent Tzadik release, "Lost Photograph," combines lounge and exotica with South American and Jewish styles.
Wholesale Klezmer's new "Sing for Peace, Dance for Joy" shows why I think of the band as "Comfort Klezmer".
An old friend, Craig Johnson, was in town recently to attend NEFFA (New England Folk Festival Assocation) last week. It was a glorious NEFFA year--lots of Yiddish and Klezmer music and dancing and Jewish storytelling. The usual array of other folk traditions, Craig's included, were also represented in glorious profusion.
As inevitably happens, and always to my shame, I was too frazzled with household and family chores to attend the festival. I got a bit of what I missed, however, when Craig dropped off a copy of his most recent English Country Dance CD. The band is called "Bangers and Mash," and the CD, "Breakfast at Fezziwig's," said name derived from the location wherefrom this delightful masterpiece was recorded.
Since fans of English country dance abound locally as, well as abroad, and since this is one of the most pleasant examples of same to come by in a while, I wanted to mention that it is available online from www.bangersandmash.us. Highly recommended. The variety of music ranges from "Zingara Mazurka" to the recently composed "Star of David." Lots of more traditionally-named music such as the ever-pleasant "Riding on a Load of Hay" in between. One number reminds me greatly of the Pachelbel Canon. The band takes a lovely formal dance tradition and plays so well, and covers such a variety of material that the feet are never quiet and the ears are always happy. Shall we dance?
The Center for Jewish Music of the Jewish Community Center of St. Petersburg is proud to announce "KlezFest in St. Petersburg 2003," an international seminar on the traditional music of Eastern European Jewry, to be held July 12-16, 2003 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
For more information, please contact the Jewish Community Center of St. Petersburg via fax at (+7-812) 314-5117, or e-mail frenk@lea.spb.su.
"KlezFest in St. Petersburg," now in its seventh year, is the oldest Klezmer seminar in Russia. The 2003 festival will include master-classes on Yiddish folk songs and Klezmer music, workshops on Yiddish folklore and Yiddish dance, lectures, concerts, and two excursions: "Jewish St. Petersburg" and "Rivers and Canals of St. Petersburg." Our staff will include world-famous musicians -- the world's leading expert on Yiddish dance, violinist, accordion player, vocalist, and ethnomusicologist Michael Alpert from New York, wonderful Yiddish singer and storyteller Shura Lipovsky from Amsterdam, and the outstanding Klezmer clarinetist from Berlin, Christian Dawid.
"KlezFest in St. Petersburg," dedicated to bringing Klezmer music and Yiddish culture back to the lands of their birth, includes Jewish musicians from the vibrant centers of the Jewish renaissance across the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.
This year again we are pleased to announce a special program for lovers of Yiddish music and culture from other parts of the globe. We are asking for a contribution of $500 ($400 for those who speak either Russian or Yiddish). This sum will include food and lodging in St. Petersburg for 5 days and the entire seminar program, including interpreters when needed, concerts and the two excursions. Participants will pay their own transportation to St. Petersburg.
For more information, please contact the Jewish Community Center of St. Petersburg via fax at (+7-812) 314-5117, or e-mail frenk@lea.spb.su.
For advice on travel and visa arrangements, contact our American sponsor, the Jewish Community Development Fund in Russia and Ukraine, a project of the American Jewish World Service (New York), via telephone: (+1-212) 273-1642, or e-mail: jcdf@ajws.org.
Join us at "KlezFest in St. Petersburg" this summer! It is a unique opportunity for you to enjoy wonderful Yiddish melodies and the fantastic city at the Neva River, celebrating this year 300th anniversary of its foundation.
I've developed a Tin Whistle that plays the D Ahava-Rabba Mode/Freygish with the first (bell) note in C (because a lot of Jewish Music in Ahava Rabba needs the C). It can be used to play the music or as a way to teach or/and familiarize with Jewish Music Modes. I'm also making some minor scale whisltes and a few other modes.
An Ahava Rabba mode whistle plays that mode instead of the typical major scale that a regular whistle would play. You can really jam in Ahava Rabba mode with this.
Daniel Bingamon
Jubilee Music Instrument Co.
Web: www.bingamon.com
One of the great klezmer camps, and this summer's only east coast klezmer camp (compared to Klezcalifornia, Jun 22-27), is also a delight:
KlezKanada
Takes place at a Jewish summer camp in the Laurentian Hills, er "Mountains" to folks on the east coast. The full summer schedule and all details are now online: