Klarinet Archive - Posting 000275.txt from 2003/11

From: "Ken Wolman" <kwolman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Feidman in New York
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:30:22 -0500

Trying to combine both of Patricia's notes into one place.

>>Yes. And for more of a treat, Berkshire Record outlet has >a CD called "Tango Klezmer" that features all these >gentlemen: Feidman, Jaurena, Baez, and Filiano. I don't >known when it came out but they are selling it for
>>$2.99. Even with $5.00 shipping, so what? Need I say >that I ordered it?
>>
>>http://www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com/

First, and this goes back to the earlier note, it's not strictly true.
They have Tangoklezmer but you've got to order enough stuff to make up a
$15.00 order. Now, $15 is not a lot of money but their catalogue had
absolutely nothing else in which I was interested. It's
catch-as-catch-can. Berkshire cancelled my order.

Yes, as you surmised, Feidman is incredible. He is not just a fabulous
musician; there is a "something" about him that goes beyond the music
and into the realm of soul-massage. Four days later and I've still got
the glow. If that sounds suggestive, it is intentional; music played at
this level, heard at this level, feels rather erotic. Plainly, Feidman
and his other musicians were making love to the music and the audience.
I have never in my life felt warmth flow from a performer the way I
felt it from Giora Feidman on Saturday night. My biggest regret is I
can't spring for the airfare to go around the States and Europe
listening to them.

Where the CDs are available. Oh boy. Germany. It's hit and miss in
the States. Case in point: I was in the big Tower Records in Manhattan
the night before and there was not one Feidman CD in the section for
clarinet music. The search begins with Feidman's homepage--

http://www.giorafeidman.de

Yeah, Deutschland. It's almost all in German. But that doesn't matter.
There's enough English to guide you. There's a fabulous screensaver.
There is a link to Amazon.de. I ordered Tangoklezmer with the quartet
and Feidman Plays Piazzolla. Yes, it cost me way more than Berkshire,
but I didn't have to put up with their chazerei. Ordered Monday,
shipped yesterday.

Bandoneon. It's sort of an accordion but rectangular shaped, all
buttons, no keys. I have no clue how Raul Jaurena (who I have
discovered has a major musical reputation in his own right) controls the
air flow in that thing. It is a much sweeter, reedier, and melancholic
tone than the standard accordion. I'm discovering that most cultures
with a strong ethnic musical tradition have some kind of squeezebox
someplace--Edith Piaf recorded a song called "L'Accordioniste." They're
part of polka bands in both German and Polish culture. I believe (not
sure) the bandoneon started in Germany (some are still made there) and
emigrated with to Uruguay and Argentina well over a century ago where
they became the mainstay instrument in tango orchestras. Two places to
go: http://www.piazzolla.org which has tons of information plus 150
full-length and downloadable-for-free versions of Astor Piazzolla's most
famous song, "Adios Nonino" (Feidman's is there). Piazzolla himself was
a bandoneon player.

Jaurena, by the way, is headquartered in New York as part of the New
York Tango Trio, and is dedicated to teaching the style to those who
want to learn. I don't think that extends to teaching dance steps, but
if I read this right he lends his skill as part of the band at basic
classes in tango dancing at the same 92nd Street Y.

If you want to BUY one of these instruments or just get a good look,
check out this online store in Montevideo: http://www.biancos.8m.com/.
There is also http://www.musica-argentina.com/bandoneon.html, which has
sound samples of the used instruments for sale. They're not cheap (an
understatement). Then again, neither are accordions, clarinets, or
anything else worth playing well.

Have fun!

Ken
--
Kenneth Wolman
Proposal Development Department
Room SW334
Sarnoff Corporation
609-734-2538

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