Fw: Romanian fiddler available September 27th?

[david lowther <dlowther...>]

Thanks for the thoughtful messages, Henry and Mel.  Jack, I guess I spoke
too quickly
without understanding your meaning - perhaps you should have said you were
looking for musicians who would be happy to play on Rosh Hoshana and left it
at that.  Please forgive my rash assumption as our local papers print so
many pro-Palestinian stories without balancing the ledger that I worry about
anti-Semitism, probably too much.

Mel, you were lucky to have such a wonderful teacher!  Teaching a Jew how to
sound Jewish!  I must tell you a short story.  My husband and I are street
musicians and play mostly klezmer.  A couple of days ago a family listened
to many of our songs and were right into the music.  They approached us and
asked if we were Jewish.  When we explained that my husband is but I'm not,
the lady told me that I was wrong and MUST have Jewish genes in me to sound
so Jewish.  Heh heh, I thought that was quite nice.

Mary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Henry" <hbg (at) theworld(dot)com>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 8:43 AM
Subject: RE: Romanian fiddler available September 27th?


> Hi, all -
>
> I too, read the original request. I don't think that Jewish music is
> involved here at all. The non-Jewish Romanian-born bride heard
> (not-described-as-Jewish) Romanian music and decided that they want some
> at their (presumably non-Jewish) wedding. Yankl thought someone on this
> list might be able to provide some. Like Rohkl, I believe he brought up
> the non-Jewishness of likely candidates because the event is on Rosh
> Hashanah.
>
> I hope they can get Harmonia - they play wonderful music!
>
> HBG
>
>
> On Fri, 8 Aug 2003, Mel Korn wrote:
>
> >
> > Mary.... I reread the original request prior to responding. I understand
how
> > you might perceive this, and that it could smack of some sort of reverse
> > racism. However, what we seem to have is a couple, I assume non-Jewish,
who
> > upon seeing and hearing this wonderful gift of Jewish wedding music,
wanted
> > to include it as a part of their wedding. The fact that it falls on Rosh
> > Hashanah, which even the most secular of Jews treat with a certain
respect
> > is problematic. Most of my Jewish friends, who range from Chassidic
through
> > Atheist, somehow would not feel comfortable working on that date.
> >
> > It is however, a wonderful thing that there are musicians who can and do
> > play this music with feeling, love and respect, to the extent that they
can
> > add this dimension to the wedding in question. In context, the fact that
non
> > Jewish musicians would play Klezmer music for a non Jewish wedding, is
> > rather poetic, and lends credence to the thought there is hope for us
all in
> > this turbulent world.
> >
> > About a year ago, I began to take lessons from Martin Van de Ven, so I
could
> > really learn to play Klezmer music. One of the first things he (a
non-Jewish
> > transplanted Dutchman)said to me (a first generation son of Holocaust
> > survivors who grew up immersed in Yiddish, and rebelling against the
> > culture), after listenng to me play for a few minutes was "I am going to
> > teach you how to play so you sound 'Jewish'". One need only listen to
Martin
> > play to understand. His respect and reverence for the history of this
music
> > is apparent in his wonderful sound.
> >
> >
> > Mel.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> > [mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of david lowther
> > Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 10:28 AM
> > To: World music from a Jewish slant
> > Subject: Fw: Romanian fiddler available September 27th?
> >
> >
> > Let me get this right - you're sending this message to a Jewish site
asking
> > for non-Jewish musicians for this wedding?  What difference does it make
if
> > they're playing the music she wants?  You may not realize it, but this
is
> > racism.  Race or religion should have nothing to do with who the
musicians
> > are.  I play klezmer all the time and I'm not Jewish, and would not
hesitate
> > to play any kind of music (except Pomp and Circumstance) for folks who
were
> > willing to listen.
> >
> > Mary Lowther
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jack Falk (E-mail)" <jackfalk (at) teleport(dot)com>
> > To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 11:56 PM
> > Subject: Romanian fiddler available September 27th?
> >
> >
> > > Hello / Buna Ziua / Shalom,
> > >
> > > I was at a wonderful wedding this past weekend.  The bride and
> > > groom had lived in Romania for several years, and they invited
> > > Sandra Layman and Hank Bradley down from Seattle to liven up the
> > > gathering with some first-rate fiddle tunes that Sandra brought
> > > back from her many years in Bucuresti.
> > >
> > > Among the wedding guests was a Romanian-born woman who sat with
> > > her fiance, transfixed by the music.  Here's what she just wrote me:
> > >
> > >   The music at the wedding was so wonderful that both Paul and I
realized
> > >   we should incorporate some traditional Romanian music in our own
> > wedding.
> > >   I spoke with Sandra Layman about this, but unfortunately, our
wedding
> > >   falls on Rosh HaShanah weekend so she will not be able to make
it....
> > >   The wedding will take place at 6PM on Saturday, September 27th at
the
> > >   Baltimore Museum of Art.  Please let me know if you have any
suggestions
> > >   or ideas.
> > >
> > > So.... if you can play Romanian violin music and you are available on
that
> > > date (non-Jews only, please -- we're talking about Rosh HaShanah),
write
> > me
> > > off-list and I will forward your information to the bride immediately.
> > > Even if you're not from the east coast, send your info if you might be
> > > able to come to Baltimore.
> > >
> > > A separate note:  I spent a lot of time visiting with the upcoming
bride
> > > and groom, and they are both delightful people.  You'd enjoy them -
and
> > > I wish I were free to take part in this wedding too!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Jack (Yankl) Falk
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>


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