 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-01-05 00:36
Would someone please explain the technique for producing this and other klezmer sounds, or refer me to a source?
I "krekhs'ed" once, unintentionally. Fortunately, it was on a klezmer tune. I was playing a solo and felt the urge to burp. I sort of swallowed the burp while blowing and a krekhs came out. I have not been able to duplicate it since, and I don't exactly relish the idea of swallowing air to produce sounds.
Thanks.
Steve
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2002-01-08 02:24
This subject of "Krekhs" is one of the most discussed subjects at klez camp and with some of the greats that I've had a chance to talk to. First off what are we describing? Krekhs... I've heard many different definitions or shall I say I've heard this term used to describe many different phenomina. The two best klezmer that I've had a chance to talk with Sid Beckerman and Andy Statman, use this definition. A krekh is a two note ornament, that encompases a note below and above the goal note. This sounds a little too music schooly for what it really sounds like. If your goal note is a G,you would play an F#, A, and then the G. Thind of the F#, A as a group. In a sort of Jazz type talk if the G is Dah, The F#, A would be thought of as Do-it, Dah. or Dweet, dah. If you do Dweet, Dah in the uppper regester you"ll get a slight "swallowed" glissando. This is thee klezmer ornament. Listen to Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwien recordings and really get this sound in your head!!!! Good Klez doesn't have a lot of Sliding and Growling and other sonic nonsence in it at all. Sorry it's really hard thing to try to explain in writing but I hope it helps.
Tom Puwalski, Author of The Clarinetists Guide to Klezmer.
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Author: Seamus Kirkpatrick
Date: 2002-07-05 06:31
Coming from an Eastern European perspective you could also try some bagpipe or Irish flute fingering ideas.
Basically the same as above, but instead of pulling off the third finger on the left hand to play the A, pull off the second finger.
It will produce a note of indeterminate pitch but if you're quick enough with it, it will provide an unusual ornamentation.
When you're holding a long note, like an E above the C with all the fingers down and the octave key, just try pulling off any finger then putting it down again really quickly. You get a kind of 'flicking' sound. You can follw that up by quickly putting down and lifting the finger under the note you are playing. In this case fingering a D really briefly.
Irish musicians refer to these ornamentations as 'rolls' usually and a good irish flute book will probably have some diagrams that may explain the technique a little more clearly than I have.
I'm not sure if the technique is within tradition, but it's a great sound.
cheers
Seamus
www.treeskin.com
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