Re: Bustan and Klezcamp (fwd)

[Mark Kirschbaum <mkirschb...>]

On Thu, 31 Dec 1992, Benla Den wrote:

> What would be a Sephardic Jewish
> equivalent of the classical Sephard sound rather than the popular sephard
> sound?

     I guess you mean "what would be commercially available", for if it is
is true authentic performance you mean, you would have to go to the Main
Library at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where the largest collection of
Jewish singing from all the various communities is situated. Insofar as
commercially available material is concerned, there is quite a bit,
depending on what community one is interested in. Thus, if is Moroccan
music you want to study, there is alot, wheras if you want to hear the
remarkable harmonies of the Jews of Cochin, India, you would need to send
a letter to the Hebrew U Phonotek library (or spend a Shabbat in Nevatim...).
The Syrian community in Flatbush has made some wonderful recordings of
baqashot (more authentic) and piyuttim (mostly popular Arabic songs with
new Hebrew lyrics). These are available in stores and from their community
center in Flatbush. The "dean" of high Moroccan piyyut is Rabbi Hayim Louk
who has made many cassettes available in stores, all of which are
recommended. I recently recieved a CD from Paris of Samy Almaghribi, a
Jewish singer whose Arabic recordings were big in Morocco (all the tracks
are in Arabic). Of Yemenite traditional song, there is a pair of CD's put
out by Beit Hatephutzot, very authentic and well recorded. Insofar as the
Yemenite women's music, I don't think any is available in this country.
     Anyway, Eastern Jewish music is a whole universe, with many different
and interesting forms. Another recording well worth hearing and very
available (Tower Records carries it) is the Shashmaqan Bukharan Jewish
ensemble, put out by Smithsonian, and done by Ted Levine (who did the well
known Tuva recordings from Mongolia).
     I hopr there are readers out there who deal with this material, maybe
we can learn from them......
                                                      Mark

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