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Re: klezmers and fusioneers
- From: MaxwellSt <MaxwellSt...>
- Subject: Re: klezmers and fusioneers
- Date: Fri 10 Dec 1999 15.41 (GMT)
In a message dated 12/09/1999 11:34:48 PM Central Standard Time,
ari (at) ivritype(dot)com writes:
<< In the paper I am theorizing that for some people use of the term is
ignorance, and for others it provides a way to imply "Jewish" without saying
"Jewish." >>
My 2 cents:
When people hire us, it is usually because they have an IMAGE in their mind
of what the music will do for their party or audience. They are looking for
a spirit (ruach) with which to infuse the hall or event that has a
retro/nostalgic feeling. Example: the desire to hire two instruments (what's
a rhythm section), the violin and clarinet. Example: "Which specific
musician was it that you liked?" "The one in the hat." (This always baffles
us because all the men wear hats, but one of the musicians--the one from
Russia--has such a classic, 1920's Jewish look when he dons his Stetson, that
he projects the image that we all strive for.) Standards of beauty change,
and the nose job and name-softening of the past is passe for Jewish music
performance. So I am not convinced that Klezmer says Jewish without saying
Jewish, so much as it says it in a fresh way unburdened by imagery of the
past.
Lori
Maxwell Street
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