Re: Àorigins of klezmer tonality?

[Owen Davidson <owend...>]

At 02:59 PM 9/26/97 -0700, you wrote:

>There is also a mode related to the western major, often including 
>melodically the minor seventh above the tonic. This you hear in a tune
>like "Der Nayer Sher" or "Nokh a Bisl." In klezmer musical semantics,
>these tunes often signal "Romania", and often go with Romanian-Jewish
>dance rhythms like bulgars and sirbas.

This mode is sometimes called "Ha-shem Molokh" by Jewish musicians.  It's
very Romanian-sounding and has similarities to the very Greek-sounding mode
that Greek musicians call "Rast."  The fact that klezmorim know it (and the
Mi she berakh and Ahava raba modes) by liturgical names points out the
connection between the instrumental music and cantorial singing.

By the way, "Ukrainian dorian" mode is not the same as Freygish (Ahava
raba).  It's another name for Mi she berakh, Dorian mode with a raised
fourth.  The dorian mode is minor.

Gut shabbos, all.

Owen
____________________________________________________________________________
________         Owen Davidson, Amherst, Mass.

        I look into its glowing screen 
        And see the Adversary,
        And know that it, could it see me,
        Would see the Beast all hairy.