Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2005-05-21 00:09
There was an article in the New York Times in the last year about the Klezmer revival happening in eastern europe, without Jews. While a lot of people are disturbed by this trend, remember that imitation is the best form of flattery. Someone said the clarinet is "the electric guitar of the klezmer band", so there are opportunities here you won't find anywhere else. Go for it.
There is no standard for this music. If you listen to recordings of famous Klez clarinetists (Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwein, Geora Feidman, etc.) one of the first things that strikes you is just how differently they are in their style, approach to the music, and their sounds. If doesn't validate a diversity of approach, I don't know what does.
1) Check out your public library for recordings, listen, and play along with them.
2) Get "The Compleat Klezmer" from Tara Publications with the accompanying CD, and play all the tunes.
3) Find someone else to play with, a fiddle, a piano, a guitar, anybody, and play!
Regards
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