 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: Jared Cavis
Date: 2004-01-19 03:08
Does anyone know of a Greek Clarinet piece that emulates the Greek style of music? Possibly Greek Dance Music? I've searched around and haven't had much luck. Thanks!
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-01-19 03:27
Hi:
Do you mean sheet music of a Greek folk song? Greek clarinetists play by ear, but there are some books with transcriptions. Tell me what you need and perhaps I can help you.
Kalakos
Greek "klaritzis" (clarinetist)
(John Pappas)
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Author: Jared Cavis
Date: 2004-01-20 01:57
Yeah, a transcription, or perhaps something to help me play in the style of Greek Clarinets. I'm of Greek Heritage and would like to play some of the music for my family sometime. Thanks
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2004-01-20 04:43
http://www.pixton.org
Look for the Pinewoods Collection book. Contains many Greek tunes, as well as others. But it's a fake book; you are not going to get every ornament written out.
I'm a very good reader and a very poor ear player, yet I don't know how you can learn to play any of this "ethnic" stuff by just reading it. You need recordings handy to at least guide you. Having too much of a detailed transcription will just get in the way, IMHO, like trying to read those transcribed jazz solos.
There is also a book called The Balkan Musicians Gig Book, or something like that, by the fiddler Maimon Miller. I've not seen it but plan to get it one of these days. I would assume it would have a sufficient Greek repertoire. If you google the name and his name together, you should be able to find it.
Hope this helps.
Steve Epstein
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-01-20 04:47
Hi:
He's absolutely right. The melodies are always embellished differently each time we play. Improvisation is a most important part of the music. You can always tell when someone is "playing by rote." If you can, you should try to play by ear.
Best,
John
Kalakos
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2004-01-20 05:01
I'm not sure I meant that, Kalakos. At the workshops I've been to (actually, only one - Balkan Camp), the emphasis was on learning by ear, BUT... learning note by note, ornament by ornament, from someone elses' playing, not improvising, unless you are talking about playing "taxim", or whatever they're called in Greek music. Are you telling me I can just fake stuff in the modes to the chords and not to worry about learning the tunes? Alright!
Steve Epstein
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-01-20 17:04
Steve,
Tom Pixton's site says the Pinewoods 1st ed. is out of print and the 2nd edition will be out in June 2003. ??? Is it available yet?
Thanks,
Ralph
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Author: Jared Cavis
Date: 2004-01-21 00:05
Thanks for all your help. I guess what I need to know is there possibly a book with some melodies and a book that explains the theory and stuff, like what each ornement is and what they do, what modes are used, what types of rhythms, chord progressions, stuff like that. Does anything like that along with a book with tunes that could be used with the ornements exist?
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-01-21 00:39
Hi Steve:
No, it's not just "faking it" but it's lots of fun; here's how it works. There is a sort of skeleton melody that can be ascertained by distilling what every body plays, but noone plays it that way. There are many, many formulaic "tsakismata" decorations that an experienced musician learns or "picks up" over the years. These decorate or embellish the melody as the mood of the musician prompts him. Thus you are improvising the decorations differently every time you play. More kefi, more fancy; more creative time or mood, more beutiful. It's kind of like "mix and match" but much more complicated and intuitive. You don't just make up things; you throw them in where and when they are appropriate. It takes years to know what to do and when and on which songs and in which styles. Actually, taximia are similar. The "dromos" (road, mode, or scale) is what it is. The taximi improvisation is composed of formulaic creations on the moment.
So, you learn the song, but you make it live at the moment by the experience and backlog of tsakismata you have in your soul. Therefore, every time you play it, it can be different. I could show you faster than I can ever describe it this way. It's like trying to explain blue or red to someone without showing them the color.
Best regards,
Kalakos
(John Pappas)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-01-21 03:34
Kalakos,
Where do you live and do you ever give lessons?
Thanks,
Katrina
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-01-21 04:32
Hi, Katrina:
I live in California (Stockton). I really don't give lessons per se. I am a college teacher and keep pretty busy. I would be glad to answer any questions I can and help in any way I can. Maybe in the future I'll have more time. Right now I am kept very busy with work and other activities. You can visit my web site for some information, pictures, etc.:
www.greekfolkmusicanddance.com
Best regards,
Kalakos
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The Clarinet Pages
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