Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2000-11-05 02:29
Bob, just as with the Clarinet BB, there are people at different levels of knowledge and ability. We don't really need to be up to speed on things, we know what we know, and go from there. I'll try to give a basic explanation. First of all, the music from Fiddler could be put in the genre of klezmer. The music of Fiddler can be played rather straight, or with alot of ornamentation and style. In a way it is like jazz. If one were to play jazz in a totally straigh and "standard" fashion, it wouldn't be the same. Klezmer is the same in this aspect. Sure, you've got the scales and modes, but the style is what gives the music its character. As far as the tradition (no, not the song from Fiddler) goes, back to Eastern Europe, and even farther back, the Middle East. One of the oldest types of klezmer, is the Chassidic style, which is very Hebrew sounding in nature. Klezmer traces its roots back to this old Hebrew music. By today's standards, this music sound minor and Eastern. The Jews that settled outside of Israel, Eastern Europe in particular, brought their traditions with them. Over time, cultural aspects of the peoples in the area in which they settled became somewhat incorperated into their own. An example of this would be Ukrainian and Romanian influences on klezmer. In this period of time, the music would vary slightly depending on where you were. Each area had a slightly different style. It is at this stage in which Fiddler is set. The most recent, and so far one of the shortest stages is the introduction of klezmer to America. With immigration came other cultures. At first the European tradition of klezmer was kept, but with the advent of the big band era and popular music things began to change for klezmer, and other folk music. Rather than the traditional Chassidic sounding music, musicians beginning to play things that were more upbeat, and using more of the energetic Bulgarian rhythms. Less and less did the audience ask to hear a soulfull doina or freylekh, they wanted music that would compare with that of the big bands. All in all, these changes throughout history are not huge, but they have molded klezmer into what it is today. Klezmer can best be described as Jewish dance music, although there are some slower pieces such as doinas, that cannot really be danced to. One of the unique things about klezmer, is the ability to portray several emotions, all at the same time. One of the things that has particularly drawn me to klezmer clarinet is this expressiveness. Along with classical expressive techniques, krekhtsn and dreydlekh are also used. Dreydlekh are literally turns, or more complex trills, similar to those used in Sligo fiddling. For the most part, these go back to the Chassidic style of music. The others, krekhtsn, are the bending of notes - making the clarinet sing, laugh, cry, moan, and sob. It is mostly because of these that the sound of klezmer clarinet is so distinct and unmistakable. I could go on if you wish, but for now, I've just tried to give a basic explanation of things. If you have more specific questions questions you'd like to ask, it may be easier than trying to sum up everything at once. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them. That's what the board is here for. The name Klezmorim Forum may suggest that it is a forum for only serious klezmer musicians, but that is not at all the case. Also, lack of knowledge by no means makes someone ignorant. An ignorant person is one who does not know, doesn't ask, and couldn't really care less. As long as you have the interest, and a little music ability you can begin and learn to play klezmer. If you can play an instrument, I don't think you need to worry to much about the musical ability part. I do realize that in most all of Iowa, the opportunity for leaning about klezmer and how to play klezmer is limited, but hopefully this BB can help compensate for that. Just out of curiosity what part of Iowa are you from? I do know of at least one good teacher that knows klezmer in Iowa. -- Nate Zeien
|
|
The Ethnic Clarinet
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
