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jewish-music
minor
- From: I. Oppenheim <i.oppenheim...>
- Subject: minor
- Date: Sat 26 Jan 2002 20.14 (GMT)
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
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