Re: Cartoon music klezmer?

[Solidarity Foundation <svzandt...>]

Andy,

In a way I think you've put your finger on it. Why I describe this genre as
"cartoon music" (i.e. the Klezmorim) is, in a word, yes, they sound like
their having fun with the music, but that's about all they're doing with it.
It would be fine if they were having that fun along with a sense of phrasing,
rhythmic and metric subtlety and expressivity that you hear in players
like Shloimke Beckerman, Naftule Brandwein, Abe Schwartz, and so many more.
But underneath the fun, I find them completely cut and dried. 

Anyway, that's what I was thinking of. L'kuved your posting, I had another
listen to "Streets of Gold", and I have to admit, they do have some 
"mayles." I think their instrumentation is excellent, with many great
sonorities. I especially like the sound of the tuba as well as the violin.
I also have to admit that their rendition of "Mayn Rue Plats" is quite
beautiful (although this is one of those "socialist  songs" I referred to,
not really klezmer -- but yes, quite serious and beautiful). "Medtsyaner
Waltz" is almost beautiful. And the violinist's rendition of the "Taxim"
(based on Jascha Gegna's 1921 Columbia recording) is actually quite
stunning, and played actually in a MOR traditional folk style than the
original. (Gegna was a highly trained classical violinist, though also
well versed in the traditional ornaments, etc.)

So credit where credit is due. But really, all the freylakhsn and 
khusidlekh do sound like cartoon music. The brief clarinet riff introducing
"Baym rebns sude" promises good things to come, but those promises are
utterly dashed when they break into one of the most bizarre and tasteless
renditions. I find all of these so painful to listen to that I suppose
they eclipsed the memory of the few gems that are to be found on the album, and
I thank you for inspiring me to blow the dust off and listen again. 
Perhaps I should listen to "East Side Wedding" too, but you can see why I
 never thought it would be very cost-effective to buy the album. 

I also have to admit that some of the earliest Kapelye freylakhsn also tend
in the direction of cartoon music. But not as much. 

I finally thought of the word to describe my impression of most of the
Klezmorim stuff: "crass."

Zay gezint,
Itzik-Leyb Volokh