Klezmer Pioneers: European & American Recordings, 1905-1952

Amazon.com
Spirit triumphs handily over fidelity on this generous, informatively annotated package. And with a klezmer revival in full swing, it's fascinating to return as near as possible to its source to listen to what the Eastern European klezmorim thought the Yiddish community ought to hear on the first 78s full of this vital and joyous music. What first hits you are the unexpectedly sophisticated arrangements of the several klezmer orchestras represented here. The ensembles looked to American ragtime, jazz, and even military marches for inspiration after crossing the ocean. Vaudeville provided an excuse to add exotic theatrical elements to klezmer, while clarinets (played by virtuosos Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein, among others) gradually replaced fiddles with the advent of the swing era. Treading a fascinating balance between folk music and jazz, this vintage music seems to thrive in a world all its own. --Richard Gehr

Product Description
This is the first modern studio recording of the klezmer music of Europe, performed with the original European instrumentation - first violin, cimbal (hammer dulcimer), sekund (contra-fiddle), and bass. Half of these compositions were recorded here for the first time. This CD features haunting instrumentals by the great klezmer composers of the 19th century, such as Mikhl Guzikow and Avram Moyshe Kholodenko. The Khevrisa ensemble is led by Steven Greenman (violin) and Zev Feldman (cimbal ), and includes some of the finest musicians of the contemporary klezmer revival - Alicia Svigals (sekund), Michael Alpert (sekund), and Stuart Brotman (bass). 36-page booklet contains extensive notes, bibliography, glossary. 70 minutes. "…It (Khevrisa: European Klezmer Music) is an essential album if one wants to understand where klezmer music comes from." -Jewish Herald Voice, Jewish Jukebox" "…The passion of Khevrisa shines through in impassioned playing that illuminates an otherwise underlit piece of the past." -Sonicnet.com

Tracks:

The Rabbi's Dance - Art Shryer's Orchestra
Revery Dream-Jewish Fantasy - Art Shryer's Yiddish Orchestra
From The Wedding - Abe Elenkrig's Yidishe Orchestra
A Homey Bulgar - Sam Musiker And His Orchestra
How Beautiful - Belf's Rumanian Orchestra
Greek Dance - Mishka Tsiganoff
Liebes Tanz - Orchestra Romaneasca (Abe Schwartz's Orchestra)
A Dance For Everyone - Abe Schwartz's Orchestra
The Bridal Serenade And Congradulations - Joseph Cherniavsky And His Yiddish-American Jazz Band
The Chasidium Visit The Rabbi - Kandel's Orchestra
Doina Un Sirba - Mihal Viteazul
One Glance At You - Alexander Olshanetsky Und Zein Orkestrer
Dance A Freilachs - Abe Schwartz's Orchestra
Orientalishe Motive II - Josef Solinski
A Lively Honga - Kandel's Orchestra
Odessa-Burlgar - Mishka Ziganoff
The Hot One-Tater Dance - Naftule Brandwein's Orchestrer
The Hassid From Bessarabia - Isreal J. Hochman's Jewish Orchestra
Doina - Joseph Moskowitz
Bessarabian Hora - Belf's Rumanian Orchestra
Dancing With The Bride - Art Shryer's Modern Jewish Orchestra
The Disciple Of The Rabbi From Trisk - Dave Terras
Memories Of Kirshenev - Abe Katzman's Bessarabian Orchestra
Uncle Max's Bulgar - Sam Musiker And His Orchestra

Amazon.com

Spirit triumphs handily over fidelity on this generous, informatively annotated package. And with a klezmer revival in full swing, it's fascinating to return as near as possible to its source to listen to what the Eastern European klezmorim thought the Yiddish community ought to hear on the first 78s full of this vital and joyous music. What first hits you are the unexpectedly sophisticated arrangements of the several klezmer orchestras represented here. The ensembles looked to American ragtime, jazz, and even military marches for inspiration after crossing the ocean. Vaudeville provided an excuse to add exotic theatrical elements to klezmer, while clarinets (played by virtuosos Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein, among others) gradually replaced fiddles with the advent of the swing era. Treading a fascinating balance between folk music and jazz, this vintage music seems to thrive in a world all its own. --Richard Gehr

Album Description

This is the first modern studio recording of the klezmer music of Europe, performed with the original European instrumentation - first violin, cimbal (hammer dulcimer), sekund (contra-fiddle), and bass. Half of these compositions were recorded here for the first time. This CD features haunting instrumentals by the great klezmer composers of the 19th century, such as Mikhl Guzikow and Avram Moyshe Kholodenko. The Khevrisa ensemble is led by Steven Greenman (violin) and Zev Feldman (cimbal ), and includes some of the finest musicians of the contemporary klezmer revival - Alicia Svigals (sekund), Michael Alpert (sekund), and Stuart Brotman (bass). 36-page booklet contains extensive notes, bibliography, glossary. 70 minutes. "…It (Khevrisa: European Klezmer Music) is an essential album if one wants to understand where klezmer music comes from." -Jewish Herald Voice, Jewish Jukebox" "…The passion of Khevrisa shines through in impassioned playing that illuminates an otherwise underlit piece of the past." -Sonicnet.com

Customer Reviews:

Not for beginnersý.......2000-09-13

I bought this CD at a jewish music festival in London. It's something of a collector's piece; interesting if you are fairly familier with the genre, but possibly a little obscure and repetitive for 'novices'. It's compiled from old recordings and has a nice authentic and scratchy feel. It's particularly interesting to compare treatments of certain songs with those on other early klezmer CDs. These men could really play.

Not for beginnersý.......2000-09-13

World Music: