Re[2]: Popular Chassidic Music

[richard_wolpoe <richard_wolpoe...>]

Perhaps the current "rock-oriented" vogue has more to do with the TIMES than 
with the place.  IE klezmer style is simply passe everywhere and has little to 
with with Euro-centricism.

As a parallel to klezmer chazzanus is nearly dead in both modern Orthodox and 
Chassidic circles.  

Of course, if Elvis's music was really highly influenced by Jews, then Jewish 
rock is simply coming full-circle <smile>.

Regards,
Rich Wolpoe
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Popular Chassidic Music 
Author:  <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org> at Tcpgate
Date:    12/23/98 1:19 PM


  I

Rochel Sara, 

There are a number of points in your post that need addressing. 
First of all, Jewish wedding music has always been played primarily by non 
religious or non Jewish musicians. Until the early 70's, there were very few 
bands run by Orthodox musicians. I reiterate what I said in my original post. 
Orthodox Jews were no different than their non- Orthodox brethren in their 
rejection of European culture. It just happened a little more slowly. That is 
why even when playing Chasidic Music, the Klezmer style prevailed, until the 
late seventies, when musicians like Paul Pincus, Howie Leese, Danny 
Rubinstein, et al, who were the backbone of the Chasidic wedding music scene, 
began to be influenced by younger compatriots and eventually outnumbered, by 
the likes of Marty Laskin, Joel Chernet, and others who were primarily 
saxophone players. (Although Joel is quite an accomplished Klezmer Clarinetist 
as well) That is one of themain adjustments made to the Wedding Band sound. 
As far as David Schapiro's article is concerned, his point is only half 
correct. It is true that popular artists such as Dedi, Mordechai Ben David, 
and Avraham Fried continue to make rock and Disco oriented music out of a 
desire to make money selling more recordings. That is a reasonable choice on 
their parts. That does not explain why those records would be popular. The 
sociological, generational, and practical changes that have taken place in the 
Jewish community, some of which I discussed above, are at the root of that 
popularity. And as you and I have both noted, there is room for hope that the 
trend seems to be moving in the other direction now as well. 
As far as your last point, I would tell you that I am an Orthodox musician, 
active in the Chasidic and Klezmer fields, and am currently involved with a 
project which has performed for both Orthodox and Non- Orthodox audiences. 
The group with which I am involved, The Kleztrophobix, has already performed 
at The Homowack
Hotel, a Shomer Shabbat Resort, and will be appearing in concert with Ben Zion 
Miller on January 17th, 1999, at Ramapo High School in Monsey. We have 
performed for Jews from all backgrounds succesfully, but have received a very 
positive response from the Orthodox community, which has been very gratifying. 
I would love to talk further with anyone interested in performing Klezmer 
music, for anybody, with anybody.

Jordan