Re: Why genre classification is not only necessary but desired

[Ari Davidow <ari...>]

So it will come as no surprise that of the requests to unsubscribe, posted to 
the list periodically when people get confused, and just want to unsubscribe, 
exactly one over the last two years has been able to follow instructions and do 
it themselves ;-).

Brave Old World invented a whole new term: "New Jewish Music" to describe what 
they do, and at every concert I attend I hear mutterings about how it "isn't 
klezmer".

Maybe we're all living faster than we can think ;-).

ari

>From: "Seth Rogovoy" <seth(dot)rogovoy (at) verizon(dot)net>
>To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 2:00 PM
>Subject: Why genre classification is not only necessary but desired
>
>
>> While the more sophisticated musical listeners on this list might not
>> need the guidance that genre classification provides, I have today in my
>> mail the perfect example of why it is not only desired by the general
>> public, but necessary.
>> 
>> Naftule's Dream played recently here in Great Barrington, Mass. I wrote
>> a feature article for the Berkshire Eagle (daily newspaper) in advance
>> of that show, for which I interviewed bandleader Glenn Dickson. I
>> included plenty of quotes from Glenn explaining his group's unique
>> approach, and I was very careful (at least I THOUGHT I was careful) to
>> be sure to inform readers that if they went to this show, they were not
>> going to hear "traditional klezmer." I even used the term "avant-garde"
>> in the first paragraph (in fact, here is the first paragraph of the
>> piece, which can be found complete at http://www.rogovoy.com/427.shtml).
>> 
>> "When they feel like stretching out, improvising, or channeling some of
>> the myriad musical influences they bring to the bandstand besides
>> old-time Yiddish dance music, the members of the very traditional
>> klezmer ensemble Shirim go into the nearest phone booth, and like some
>> cartoon superheroes they change costume and come out as the
>> fire-breathing, avant-garde ensemble Naftule's Dream."
>> 
>> Pretty clear, right?
>> 
>> Well today in the mail I received a handwritten, scrawled note and a
>> ticket stub to that concert. The note read thusly:
>> 
>> "Seth -- I am giving you my ticket to Naftule's Dream as a reminder that
>> you do your readers a great disservice by recommending klez [sic] bands
>> which deliver avantgarde -- unlistenable -- music. Please stay alert to
>> your audience which seeks traditional enjoyment."
>> 
>> How can you win?
>> 
>> Seth Rogovoy
>> author of "The Essential Klezmer: A Music Lover's Guide to Jewish Roots
>> and Soul" 
>> www.rogovoy.com 
>> "even the most clueless goy will be able to appreciate this art form" --
>> Linda Daily Paulson, Dirty Linen Magazine
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>
>

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