Orthodox & Klezmer

[Sam Weiss <samweiss...>]

             >But the
             >fact that it is not used in the freylekhs set suggests 
            that the instrument, >and in general, the music, are part of 
            a bygone era, a music that is to >them no longer "in style".
            ..................................................
             >An ancillary question, perhaps even more elusive to 
            answer; why is >klezmer fading out in the Ortho community? 
            Given the massive amounts >of synth-driven faux rock rubbish 
            I hear Orthodox bands churning out, I >can't say I'm 
            surprised, but what is the reason for this?
        
Correction:  Klezmer music is not fading out --  it never faded into the 
Orthodox and Chassidic world.
Think about it:  The phenomenal success of the klezmer revival among 
musicians as well as audiences since the Age of Fiddler on Roof is 
inexorably linked in a host of complex ways to a concomitant revival in 
Jewish cultural/ethnic/religious discovery and/or identification.  
Neither aspect of this journey is relevant to the Chassidicized Orthodox 
world, who never lost touch with their own abundantly rich musical 
traditions.  They continue on their own merry male journey of the last 
200 years, discovering ever new ways to freshen and "modernize" their 
musical experiences -- including Disco Shlock, harps and fiddles, etc.  
Yes, their musical impresarios nodded briefly in the direction of 
Klezmer to feel out any commercial possibilities, but for that culture 
to embrace Klezmer makes as much sense as for "us" to start wearing 
Nehru jackets.

______________________________________________________
Cantor Sam Weiss === Jewish Community Center of Paramus, NJ

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