Fascinating insights
Both the traditional pieces and the detailed explanations make this chamber music booklet for violin and accordion a successful introduction to klezmer music.
The author of this successful chamber music booklet is very keen to present not only a colorful selection of klezmer pieces, but also an enormous amount of interesting information about this music and the ways in which it can be played. Deborah Strauss (violinist, ethnomusicologist, dancer, teacher) and Alan Bern (accordionist, pianist, composer, teacher) have extensive knowledge of Jewish culture and have been active in the klezmer and Yiddish music scene for many years.
According to the foreword, the ten pieces, which are very different in character, come from the klezmer repertoire of the late 19th to mid-20th century and represent "snapshots" of a real, partially improvised performance. I am fascinated not only by the works themselves, but above all by the easy-to-understand explanations of the performance (articulations, ornaments, phrasing, etc.), the look "behind the notes", so to speak, and the small portraits of the pieces. Small videos are also available on the publisher's website for tonal and stylistic orientation. On the one hand, these recordings are very informative for the performance, but on the other hand, the dynamic balance of the two instruments and the dynamic balance of the two sides of the accordion (choice of register) could be more optimal. This website also contains detailed information on bowing technique, glissandi, trills, vibrato and other special ways of playing the violin in klezmer music. As a final tip, Deborah Strauss adds: "Always remember to listen, breathe, dance and sing while you are learning." - I can only subscribe to that. Mazel Tov!
Klezmer Duets, 1o traditional pieces of medium difficulty, arranged for violin and accordion by Deborah Strauss and Alan Bern, UE 37189, € 19.95, Universal Edition, Vienna 2017
