Re: Why genre classification is not only necessary but desired

[George Robinson <grcomm...>]

Maybe all our recordings/reviews should come with a Surgeon General's
Warning:

Caution: This music may not be what you are expecting or what you like. If
not, tough.

Of course, people still smoke cigarettes and drink while pregnant, so that
may not help either.

George (has never imbibed alcohol while pregnant) Robinson

 "To announce that there must be no criticism
of the president, or that we are to stand by
the president, right or wrong, is not only
unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."
   --Theodore Roosevelt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ari Davidow" <ari (at) ivritype(dot)com>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 3:29 PM
Subject: Re: Why genre classification is not only necessary but desired


> 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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