Klezmer trumpet

[Fred Blumenthal <xd2fabl...>]

The question of whether or how a trumpet would fit into a klezmer group 
brings up questions of authentic style and history in klezmer playing.  My 
understanding has always been that this was a music of poverty, and that 
those instruments were included that were available, or could be recruited 
from the neighbors (Gypsies, Slavs et al.)  In vivid contrast with 
"classical" European music, in which the instrumentation of a string 
quartet is non-negotiable, klezmer groups contained whatever was available 
and someone could play.  I, too, immediately think of violin and clarinet 
as being the backbones of klezmer, but that's a narrower view of klezmer. 
Maybe it isn't the perfect word to say we've been "spoiled" by large 
ensembles with piano and highly-trained, polished performers, but 
sometimes performances with an occasional sour note and that seem always 
at risk of breaking down have their own anxious charm, intensity and 
authenticity.  On the other hand, this is also clearly a music that 
evolved from centuries ago to the jazz-influenced music of Mickey Katz, 
Dave Tarras et al.  And the people who are fusing other styles into 
21st-century klezmer probably don't disdain the trumpet, or synthesizer 
either, for that matter.

Fred Blumenthal
xd2fabl (at) us(dot)ibm(dot)com