Re: defining the klez

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

I most certainly speak as no expert here, but wouldn't it be worthwhile to 
distinguish a klezmer (musician) from the klezmer _repertoire_--both the 
traditional repertoire (in its traditional styling, etc.) and various 
updatings and transformations of same?

If a klezmer in Eastern Europe was a Jewish folk musician who played Jewish 
folk material (incorporating, perhaps, some of the non-Jewish folk and 
popular music of surrounding cultures and countries) at simchas, wouldn't a 
contemporary klezmer (whether or not [s]he plays the traditional Eastern 
European klezmer repertoire with its traditional ornamentation, etc.) be a 
Jewish folk musician who plays (now, of course, differently defined) Jewish 
folk music and other contemporary folk and popular music at simchas?

just my two kopeks,

robert cohen



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