Klarinet Archive - Posting 000414.txt from 2002/10

From: Jeremy A Schiffer <schiffer@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Beginner Klezmer help
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 11:21:05 -0400

Hi,

The most important thing is to listen, listen, listen to klezmer music.
You can't learn the style from a book, because the phrasing and
ornamentation is what makes the style.

Check our http://www.tara.com for everything you could possibly need.

For CD's: (on that site) click "recordings" then "browse categories" and
select klezmer. You should start with Naftule Brandwein, Dave Tarras,
and The Klezmer Conservatory band. Brandwein and Tarras were the two
premier Klezmer clarinet players of the first generation players, while
the KCB plays (at least on their older stuff) transcriptions of the old
78's, so it's much more authentic to the style than most modern klezmer
(not that there's anything wrong with less traditional klezmer, but when
you're learning, you want to hear the most traditional stuff possible,
especially at first). After Brandwein and Tarras, you should move to Andy
Statman and Margot Leverett, two of the premier modern players. David
Krakauer is also a must have, but you shouldn't try copying what he does,
at least until you've mastered everything else first.

For books: buy the Compleat Klezmer, by Henry Sapoznik, and make sure to
get it with the CD. Here's the direct URL:
http://www.tara.com/index.asp?FID=3101&ACT=4&ID_Prd={814001F5-D760-4C3E-B5FC-BCE80C13E009}&RND=519731
(you'll probably need to assemble that in the browser if you can't click
it directly). This book includes 33 very traditional tunes, with the
original recordings, and a great history/technical section. Anyone who
claims to play klezmer, but doesn't own this book, is lying (unless, of
course, they've been playing since before it was written).

There's also a pretty good video, by Andy Statman, called "Learn to Play
Klezmer Music" (videos -> browse categories -> klezmer).

Most importantly, have fun!

-jeremy

principal clarinet, Columbia Klezmer Band
concertmaster, Columbia University Wind Ensemble.
mp3's of my playing at http://www.columbia.edu/~schiffer/

NYC concert alert: This Sunday, 2pm, Columbia Wind Ensemble in Roone
Arledge Auditorium (Lerner Hall). 115th and Broadway. Free.

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Jeremy A. Schiffer
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Columbia University
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On Mon, 14 Oct 2002, Sterba Family wrote:

>
> Picking up the clarinet again after a few years away..... I would like
> to learn how to play Klezmer style music but have no idea where to
> start. All previous training has been classical. Not easy to hear and
> learn in rural Virginia.
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion as to a book, method, CD etc that could
> help get me started?
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Warren

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