CD Review #27: Klezmer Music -- A Marriage of Heaven and Earth
DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu
"The CD REVIEW"
edition # 27
by Henry Doktorski
copyright 1996 by Henry Doktorski
Klezmer Music
A Marriage of Heaven and Earth
by Various Artists
Last Saturday, I played accordion at a Jewish wedding in
Charleston West Virginia with Cleveland violinist Steven Greenman. While
driving to the gig I happened to mention that I had just received
something really terrific in the mail to review. I explained that at
first, I thought it was simply a book, albeit a beautiful 64 page
hardcover book with thirty-one exquisite photographs from 1900 to the
present -- many in color -- chock full of wonderful articles and essays,
all based on the theme of a Jewish wedding. I explained to Steve that it
was not until I got to the the very end of the book, that I discovered a
compact disc tucked away within an envelope where the back page should be!
"Very clever!" I thought. However, I wasn't surprised when I read
the name of the producer: Michal Shapiro of Planet Squeezebox fame. She
has done it again -- another exceptional production to her credit.
At that point, my violinist friend exclaimed, "So, the wedding
album has been released! I played on that album with the European Klezmer
group Budowitz. Would you believe our accordionist plays on an authentic
19th-century instrument? In fact, next month I leave for Europe to play
with them on tour."
Sure enough, when I arrived home I looked through the book and
found Steve's picture; with a shorter haircut, perhaps, but Steven
Greenman no-less.
I was enchanted by this album and I think you will be also. The
concept is ingenious. "Klezmer Music -- A Marriage of Heaven and Earth" is
structured around the theme of a Jewish wedding, and each artist has
written a commentary on the performance they chose to contribute. The
album opens with a procession to the wedding ceremony, followed by a piece
played for the greeting of guests, then dances, wedding music, the march
to the canopy and the procession from the canopy, music played at the
tables of celebrating guests, etc. The album closes with the processional
escorting the in-laws home.
The performances range from traditional renditions of classic
songs by the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble and Budowitz to modern pop and
contemporary arrangements by the Flying Bulgar Band and Naftule's Dream.
Truly a memorable album/book for connoisseurs of fine folk music.
CD Tracks:
1 Gasn nign: Alicia Svigals
2 Mazltov: The Chicago Klezmer Ensemble
3 Hongu and Freylekhs from Podoloy: Di Naye Kapelye
4 A glezele vayn: La'om
5 Badekns nign: Andy Statman
6 Pehusher khusid: Budowitz
7 Wedding Suite: Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer
8 Nokh an anderer alter bulgar: Ray Musiker and the Klezmatics
9 Dveykus nign: Andy Statman
10 Patsh tants: The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
11 The Black Wedding: Naftule's Dream
12 Rufn di kinder aheym: Brave Old World
total time: 58:04
label: Elipsis arts
CD 4090
Ordering Information:
This writer suggests that readers patronize their local record stores or
the dealers who contribute to this newsgroup. "Klezmer Music" can also be
ordered through:
Ellipsis Arts
20 Lumber Road
Roslyn, NY 11576
Phone: 516-621-272
FAX: 516-621-2750
E-mail: elli...@aol.com
About the author:
Henry Doktorski has written articles published in "Accordion World
Magazine," "The Reed Block," "The CAPA Times," "The Polka News,"
"NorthWest Accordion News," "Accordion Monthly News" (England) and
"Harmonikacentret" (Denmark).
He is an accomplished classical accordion artist and has won several
awards including first place in the 1990 American Accordion Musicological
Society's Virtuoso Solo Competition. Doktorski has performed as a soloist
on the accordion with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood
Festival Orchestra.
His first commercial album, the compact disc "A Classical Christmas," is a
perennial favorite with U.S. radio stations and is broadcast every
Christmas season from California to Maine. Doktorski is also a composer
and is currently finishing his Masters of Music degree at Duquesne
University.
Send E-mail comments to DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu
Readers are invited to submit CDs for review in this column to:
Henry Doktorski, PO Box 95, Allison Park, PA 15101 USA.
Past Reviews:
1 Marin Nasturica: Virtuoso
2 Jim Rommel: Prost!
3 The Music Makars: Scottish Dance Music
4 Friedrich Lips: Also sprach Zarathustra
5 Myron Floren: 22 of the Greatest Polka Hits
6 Astor Piazzolla: Luna
7 Planet Squeezebox (3 CD Anthology)
7a Interview with Planet Squeezebox producer Michal Shapiro
8 Friedrich Lips: Russisch und Trepak
9 William Schimmel: Dead End Avenue
9a Interview with composer / accordionist William Schimmel
10 Reeltime
11 The Celtic Consort
11a Interview with Wendy Morrison, Celtic Consort concertina player
12 La Musgana: Las Seis Tentaciones
13 Alan Hovhaness: The Rubaiyat; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz - conductor
14: Marin Nasturica: Jazz & Romance
15: Klezmatics: Jews with Horns
16: Pauline Oliveros: Deep Listening
16a: Interview with composer / accordionist Pauline Oliveros
17: I.K. Dairo M.B.E. & His Blue Spots
18: Bogdan Precz: Acordeon
19: Quartetto Gelato
20 Robert Davine: Concert Accordion Artistry
21: Sofia Gubaidulina: Seiben Worte / In croce
22: Anthony Braxton with Ted Reichman: 1993 (Leipzig)
23: Henry Doktorski: A Classical Christmas
24: Stanislav Venglevski: Stas!
25: Semyonov Plays His Transcriptions
26: Mogens Ellegaard: Contemporary Danish Accordion Music
27: Klezmer Music: A Marriage of Heaven and Earth: Various Artists
Future Reviews:
28: Alfred Melichar: AccoMusic
29: Otto Lechner: Accordeonata
30: Deishovida: fast folk
31: Herluf Donslund: Harp and Soul
32: Good Music Polka Band: It's a Polka Party!
33: Richard Galliano: Laurita
34: Helmut C. Jacobs: Paganiniana
35: The John Kirkpatrick Band: Force of Habit
36: Tiger Moth: Mothballs
37: Enrique Ugarte plays Bolero, Sabre Dance, Czardas
38: Hugo Diaz: Tango Argentino, Baroque Classics
39: Quartetto Gelato: Rustic Chivalry
40: Joseph Macerollo: Persuasion
41: QuarTango
42: Amadeus Ensemble and friends: Music of Marjan Mozetich
43: Dan Newton: Cafe Accordion
44: Cafe Accordion Orchestra: Dancing on the Moon
45: Guy Klucevsek: Manhattan Cascade
46: Robert Sattler Plays the Bayan
47: Pablo Mainetti: Astor Piazzolla Concerto for Bandoneon
48: Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones
49: Geir Draugsvoll: Sofia Gubaidulina
Note to readers: If you would like copies of past reviews, send a request to:
Wendy Morrison
In article <849654589.5533...@duq3.cc.duq.edu>,
DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu wrote:
> "The CD REVIEW"
> edition # 27
>
> by Henry Doktorski
> copyright 1996 by Henry Doktorski
>
>
> Klezmer Music
>
> A Marriage of Heaven and Earth
>
> by Various Artists
[...]
Glad you liked it, Henry. I recently posted a very short review of this
CD/book to rmms - you can see my comments in dejanews, or if anyone didn't
catch the original, I'll be glad to email you a copy. We have a page for
the CD, with a scan of the cover, at
http://www.hmtrad.com/hmtrad/tony/marriage.html
In his review, Henry mentions the group Budowitz and the 19th century
accordion - their accordion player, Josh Horowitz, plays a 19th century
Budowitz chromatic button accordion with leather supports for the reed
blocks, instead of wax. He has had to learn to be his own repairman, since
the thing is prone to breakdowns and doesn't care if he happens to be on
tour at the time.
Josh has another recording well worth a listen, "Bessarabian Symphony". It
has a permanent place of honor in my CD changer. He is also the featured
accordion, tsimbl, and ensemble instructor at KlezKamp this year. His
presence there is the main reason I have decided to attend camp, which
takes place Christmas week in the Catskills. Josh promised me he would
teach me how to krechts properly - I've been having some trouble getting
the sound I want.
I don't know if KlezKamp has closed enrollment yet - they are usually
pretty booked by this time - but if you are an accordion and klezmer nut
and you can take off a whole week, you should try to go one of these years.
They always have an accordion teacher, and the accordion is treated with
respect and affection, for a refreshing change.
--
Wendy Morrison, House of Musical Traditions
7040 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-9090 fax 301-270-3010, toll free in US 800-540-3794
http://www.hmtrad.com/hmtrad