minor

[I. Oppenheim <i.oppenheim...>]

On Sat, 26 Jan 2002, Henny van der Groep wrote:

> How can it be Klezmer music evokes such different emotions. Is it
> through the minor mode I wonder?

In western music there is a *convention* that a tune
in minor is supposed to express sadness.

In Jewish music, this convention, however, does not exist.
Jewish music has a strong preference for minor in general,
whether it concerns cheerful, neutral or sad pieces.

The emotional quality of a piece depends more on its rhythmic
structure and the expression of the interpreter.

Irwin Oppenheim

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