RE: why Jews became fiddlers

[Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky <reyzl...>]

Jeff,

>My wife, who is a non-Jewish composer and pianist, has a different theory.
>When she hears my string writing, she just sighs and says "you Jews have
>strings in your genes."

I think that Bernadette is right about that.

If portability would have been the main factor in instrument selection, then 
all portable instruments would have been just about equal, but they weren't. If 
anything, the other highly popular instruments were tsimbl, not so heavy but a 
little cumbersome.   There was lots of base players in Eastern Europe and the 
heavy accordion is the essential instrument they chose to bring on their long 
journey to Israel to escape the "diaspora".   Don't find too many Jewish 
whistle, piccolo, and flute players in Eastern Europe.   The highly portable 
halil was not, to say the least, a popular Eastern European Jewish instrument, 
yet became one on terra sancta.

Good to hear from you.


A happy new year


Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky



----------
From:  JeffSchan (at) aol(dot)com[SMTP:JeffSchan (at) aol(dot)com]
Sent:  Sunday, September 27, 1998 7:42 PM
To:  World music from a Jewish slant.
Subject:  RE: why Jews became fiddlers

It's interesting that Reyzl should raise this question.  As a second
generation musician, this is a question I have thought about for a long time.
When I was young, I started learning the guitar because I was always taken
with folk singing at Jewish day camps.  However, in 8th grade, I was seriously
considering learning the violin as well.  This did go over really big with my
parents.  However, I ultimately decided against it.

Although it is not a cause, when you think of the great classical violinists -
many are Jewish - Stern, Haifetz, Pearlman.  I think the "get up and go"
aspect of the instrument contributes a lot.  However, my own personal theory
is that the violin is infinitely microtonal, and therefore one of the most
expressive of instruments.  Yes, I know that wind instruments can bend pitches
too, and have the added plus of being breath-based, but I think that the
violin is more expressive and ideosyncratic.  As to why violin vs. viola,
cello, etc., it's the highest and therefore the most out-front.

My wife, who is a non-Jewish composer and pianist, has a different theory.
When she hears my string writing, she just sighs and says "you Jews have
strings in your genes."

Jeffrey Schanzer