Re: Middle Eastern Roots of Klezmer?

[Pete Rushefsky <klezbanjo...>]

Sorry to indulge in some reflections that aren't well thought out...

There are many theories about where some klezmer tunes (especially in the 
freygish/ahava raba/hijaz/middle eastern sounding mode) derived from.  But need 
to remember that the repertoire is a moving target depending on preferences of 
musicians and listeners of a particular era/place.  

So not only should we ask how did the freygish mode come into klezmer, but we 
should ask why were tunes in this mode continually selected over time and place 
by listeners and players as hitting their kishkes in the right way.  We will 
probably find that popularity of these Middle Eastern sounding pieces varied 
with these variables of time and place.

I think the typical (sorry to use a generalizing term) North American klezmer 
simcha gig repertoire has become more Middle-Eastern sounding because 
Ashkenazic Jews have lost much of their Ashkenazic cultural context and now 
look for Jewish identity in things that recollect Israel/Middle East.  By this 
theory Klezmer pieces in major scales may be deselected (except by the few of 
us interested in keeping such things alive).  Rhythms become more middle 
eastern as well (at best, at worst they become bad polka beats), and move away 
from the European military style drumming of American prior to the 50's.

Pete Rushefsky


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