Re: What is klezmer?

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

Of course our gevalt klezmer musician *and* klezmer music historian Henry is 
correct that "klezmer music" only refers to *some* Jewish folk music--one 
species of it, as it were.  But I think, w/ all deference and respect, that 
to assert that "klezmer only refers to instrumental music" just won't do, 
un- (significantly) qualified.  *Of course* Henry is correct--as if I would 
be the one to correct him!--re the traditional European music that is the 
source and inspiration for today's klezmer musicians.  But 
lexicographically, not to mention market niche/industry label/record store 
bin--wise, the term "klezmer" has clearly "generalized,* as lexicographers 
put it, for better or for worse.  And Henry himself was the first to teach 
me (and others) this, when he said on my YEDID NEFESH radio program too many 
years ago (in the 70s, gevalt!) that the klezmer repertoire had expanded in 
this country (in the revival) to encompass a vocal repertoire.

A creative, if slightly impish, definition of (not esp. Jewish) "folk music" 
that I may have shared w/ the list comes to mind:  One wag--but meaning it, 
I think, quite seriously--defined "folk music" (a term about which I also 
keep files ...) as "music that folk music audiences (in coffeehouses, folk 
music festivals, etc.) accept as folk music."  I.e., if Pete Seeger sings 
Berlin's "Blue Skies" at a concert, most people attending wouldn't say, I 
think, that they had been to a concert of mostly folk music and some other 
songs.  Ditto, instrumentally and in re, say, a record, when Pete recorded 
the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth on a classic Folkways record of 
banjo tunes.  SO:  If a recognized klezmer band, at a klezmer concert or on 
a klezmer recording, does Yiddish folk or popular or theater melodies (as 
many have done--including Henry's Kapelye!), I don't think that means that 
the recording is of klezmer *and* non-klezmer music--or, anyway, would be 
received and recognized and accepted as such.

The key, I think, might be to recognize klezmer in the klezmer revival 
(which I think is an *excellent* term to use, btw) as referring to a 
*style*--or "styling"--of *playing* music.  A comparison:  I have a record, 
I think w/ Roger Sprung of the original Washington Square (NYC) folk revival 
scene, playing "Erev Shel Shoshanim" in, I think I remember, a vaguely 
bluegrass styling.  And the wonderful contemporary band Salamander Crossing 
(now olev hashalom--alas!) plays at least one Beatles song and some other 
such material in distinctly, markedly bluegrass stylings.  In fact, other, 
more specifically bluegrass bands have recorded Beatles songs and other pop 
material.  Does that make the Beatles songs involved bluegrass?  Of course 
not.  Does that make the recordings (tracks or albums) on which such 
renditions appear no longer bluegrass?  I don't think so.  These are 
bluegrass versions--stylings--of non-bluegrass repertoire songs.

So, in theory (and maybe many times in practice?), I think a klezmer band 
could play *anything* in a klezmer style and not disappoint either 
audience/listeners or presenters (esp., presumably, if such material was 
part of a broader mix including more, or mostly, traditional klezmer 
repertoire--though a "concept album" of only non-traditional repertoire 
could presumably be attempted).  The ultimate example, presumably, was KCB's 
(I think it was their?) playing Xmas melodies w/ what I and others thought 
was a *distinctly* Jewish ta'am (flavor) on a recent PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION 
(though I know, this being a Jewish list, that some found it 
offensive--oy!).

Does this make sense, and speak to, anyone?


>From: Sapoznik (at) aol(dot)com
>Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Subject: Re: Klezmer is Jewish Folk Music
>Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 18:53:03 EST
>
>
>
>In a message dated 12/30/99 5:31:36 PM, DrRMF2700 (at) aol(dot)com writes:
>
><< "Klezmer"  is a yiddish/hebrew term for Jewish Folk Music
>   >>
>
>Klezmer is NOT a Yiddish/Hebrew term for Jewish folk music. Yiddish folk
>music takes in a much broader array of music forms than just klezmer (try a
>capella folk ballads, theater music, labor and work songs.) Klezmer only
>refers to instrumental music.
>
>Henry Sapoznik
>
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+