 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-04-21 19:08
I've played classical clarinet for a long time but I'd really like to learn how to play klezmer. Not as a career, or even in a band, just for fun. But I have no idea where to start. The few books I've seen so far are really basic in terms of technique. I can handle the technique, I just need the stylistic stuff explained. Are there any books or CDs that will help me? I've played some jazz, so I can improv a little- if that helps.
Thanks,
Micaela
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Author: Paolo
Date: 2001-04-25 20:28
Hi Micaela.
I am classical clarinettist but I have played Klezmer for four years.
I believe:
1) a good book of music doesn't exist in general;
a good book doesn't exist for the Klezmer Music
2) Klezmer is a philosophy of life.
3) A particular dimension of the person.
You can study but first you have to want to play klezmer.
It is not a technical matter, you take your clarinet and it sing.
Sing your feelings not to sing your emotions only.
Paul
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-05-03 20:09
Check out the "Klezmer for Beginners," it says all clarinets trained in a clasical school should "loosen up" etc. I am too inept to play well, either classical or klezmer but this might help someone.
Bob A
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Author: Lionel Mrocki
Date: 2001-05-10 14:15
I dunno about philosophies of life... I first started playing my first "klezmer-style" stuff at age 17 after a straight classical training. In Melbourne Australia, there was not one klezmer clarinettist I could get any advice from, not even a violinist. I had no knowledge, nor the resources to travel to "KlezKamp" or any other overseas klezmer intensives, so I was forced to simply listen and try to imitate.
I recommend:
1 listen lots
2 learn one or two tunes and play them lots. (I started with early Giora Feidman as he's generally easy to imitate, though many argue that his style departs too far from the "more authentic" styles of the early recordings of Klezmer.... Get started... then if you like, get precious!)
3 play together with other musos. This will engourage your own style to develop as you are influenced by the organic inter-dependent process that group-work furnishes.
4 Many local clarinettists have been inspired to learn klezmer having seen and heard it played. One that comes powerfully to mind who, despite his woeful self-taught technique and limited capacity (he only played chalameau when I met him) inspired me a year ago when he spoke to me in yiddish having taken himself off to adult yiddish classes. It speaks strongly that klezmer comes from a very rich tradition which flavours the music. You kindof have to let that tradition infuse the mind and soul to play it with feeling and passion.
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Author: anthony sacco
Date: 2001-07-22 02:04
im self taught, never to learn how to stacatto. my present way his by the throat, and i been doing it this way for 50 years. is it to late to learn using the tongue. any help his welcomed.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-10-07 00:42
Try "The Compleat Klezmer" by Henry Sapoznik, Tara Publications, 1987. Get the accompanying CD. You can order it from their website, which you can get looking it up on a search engine. The section at the beginning has some good material about scales. Most of the recordings I have heard manage to work in at least one of the melodies in this book.
Conspire with other musicians to play klezmer, even if none of you know what you are doing. Listen to recordings, emulate, experiment, add adrenoline.
You will be doing things your teacher never taught you, maybe even taught you not to do: hejjaz minor, defocus notes, bend pitch, over-ornament. Most of all: Have Fun!
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The Clarinet Pages
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