RE: non-Canadians who attend Klez Kanada

[Mel Korn <mkorn...>]

Speaking as a Canadian, your comments are greatly appreciated. While support
for the arts and culture have suffered tremendously over these last years of
"balanced budgets", Canada has had, and continues to have programs to
encourage the arts and culture. Klez Kanada is an event that deserves
government support. It is one of 2 acclaimed "Klezmer" events that happen in
Canada, the other of course being Ashkenaz. I thought I would take advantage
of this post to highlight something that has disturbed me for some time, an
issue that lies under the surface and does not get addressed. Please bear in
mind that what follows is strictly the opinion of one person, who is no more
than an adult student of Klezmer music who has observed what follows for a
number of years.

What does disappoint me is that Canadian musicians do not seem to get equal
billing by the event organizers, despite the fact that Canadian taxpayers
help to fund them. I will not get into the specifics, but suffice to say
that these events suffer from a Canadian malady, that unless an artist is
American or European, or has achieved acclaim in those markets, than they
are not equal to the artists from those markets. I can tell you that other
well known events, such as the Toronto and the Montreal Jazz Festivals also
suffer from this malady. In the case of Klez Kanada and Ashkenaz, I fault
the event organizers, who do not compensate Canadian musicians, or provide
the best venues, to our local artists. To me this is indicative of a lack of
respect, recognition of the incredibly high level of musicianship and
dedication to the genre of Canadian Klezmer artists (in this case the
musicians who struggle to maintain a vibrant Klezmer scene on an ongoing
basis). Given that the events are funded in part by Canadian taxpayers, I
believe that the event organizers have an obligation to correct this
situation




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
[mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of r l reid
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 3:34 PM
To: World music from a Jewish slant
Subject: non-Canadians who attend Klez Kanada


Moadim l'simcha

When I discuss the Yiddish Music "Kamps" with folks who
haven't been, one contrast I usually make about Klez
Kanada is how inexpensive it is.

There are several reasons, of course - the lesser
accommodations (a summer camp, not a hotel), and the
Canadian dollar vs the US dollar, teenaged kitchen staff.

But there is yet another reason.  After coming home last
year I first became aware that my learning at Klez Kanada
was partially financed by the Canadian taxpayer.  The
Canadian government has this idea that part of their
responsibility is the support of cultural institutions and
events.  Closet commies?  Hippie pinkos?  I dunno.

Not to be self aggrandizing - but on learning this I wrote
out a follow up check for $100, and plan to send another
$100 before the next registration is due.

It's pretty tacky to publicly announce one's donations,
but I'm doing it for a reason here.  There is no reason on
earth that we who come from any other country than Canada
should be subsidized by the Canadian taxpayer.

I feel non Canadian attendees who can afford it should
feel some obligation to donate funds above our tuition
room and board to Klez Kanada.

I realize there are some of us who come to Klez Kanada
specifically because of its affordablity - that you can
take a share in a tent or trailer and carpool up and do
the whole trip for a couple hundred bucks.  That's fine,
and if that's you, put your wallet away.

But for those of us who have had a few lucky breaks in
life and have made it into the middle class (or were born
into it and never left), and can afford to write a check
of $50 or $200 or $500 - I think we have an obligation, if
we are attending Klez Kanada to pay our own way, and let
the Canadian subsidy benefit people with fewer means and,
of course, Canadians!

It's probably clear that this letter is my own opinion and
is not endorsed - in fact has never been seen by Hy and
Sandy.  I did mention it to one of the music directors who
felt I maybe had a good point.  So I figured I'd share
this concept.  I feel like a bit of an ass doing so - ah
but so what.

Moadim l'simcha

Roger Reid



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