Klarinet Archive - Posting 001123.txt from 2000/05

From: chr <chr@-----.de>
Subj: [kl] Giora Feidman concert
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 03:44:11 -0400

Last night, my family and I had the privilege of going to a wonderful
concert of the famous Klezmer clarinetist, Giora Feidman and his combo. The
combo consisted of Manny Katz- guitar, Ken Filiano-contra bass and Bradford
Catler-percussion. The performing was consummately professional. Born in
1936, Feidman has the energy of a young man. He has the ability to capture
an audience of all ages and electrify them all. He had the audience
spellbound from beginning to end. By the end, everyone was singing with him!
Imagine about 1,000 Germans singing a beautiful Hebrew melody together.

I will paraphrase (translated from German) a few things from the program:
The philosophy of Klezmer: the language of the soul is heard. The uniqueness
is not the music, but the way its interpreted, which means to play from
heart to heart. For Feidman, this means not to "play" a song, but to "say"
it. There's no difference between the musician, the music and his
instrument-it's all Klezmer. The important thing is to express what's
inside. If you do that, then that is what's needed to have understanding no
matter what religion, skin color or language one speaks. Through his
clarinets, Feidman can enchant, rouse up, flatter, laugh, cry, yell, beg and
pray. In his hands, the clarinet takes the form of the human voice, but more
open and more variable than human language ever could be. He said, "I'm not
an entertainer and not a clarinet player. I'm a singer, who sings through
his instrument. The clarinet is the microphone of my soul." Music speaks its
own language, and Giora Feidman masters that to the last detail. He and his
ensemble synthesize a special way of communicating to the public by not only
playing together in perfect harmony, but opening new dimensions and insights
to the audience. Everyone leaves these concerts with the realization that he
has experienced much more than the music.

Feidman also spoke to the audience between pieces. He spoke of peace. The
troops have been taken out of Lebanon. They were there for 22 years and now
there is hope for peace. Now mothers can sleep at night without having to
worry about their children. He said whether it's Germans, Jews, Africans,
Irish, Russian, Croatian, Serb etc., doesn't matter because we are all of
the same family, namely the human family and music speaks to ALL. Music is
the biggest element to bring people together. The program was a mix of
Klezmer, classic and music from many cultures, all arranged for Feidman.
(Hebrew, Strauss waltz, German folk and classic: Bach-"Jesu, joy of man's
desiring", Turkish folk, Argentinean, Spanish tango, American: some
Gershwin-Rhapsody in Blue and Summertime, middle east medley, Irish,
Iranian, Russian, French, etc.)

After the concert, my 3 children (who also play clarinet) went backstage
with their programs to ask Feidman for his autograph. They heard him singing
in his dressing room. When he came out, he was still singing! Then he sat at
a table and signed programs and this was after a concert nearly 2 1/2 hours
long.

This was truly a spiritually uplifting experience for me. It was magical and
I'll never forget that magic.

Cindy, still singing the encore melody in my head

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