MAESTRO'S MUSINGS by YAACOV BERGMAN

Crème de Klezmer - September 13, 2003

The Portland Chamber Orchestra September 13, 2003 Concert, Crème de Klezmer, will offer compositions inspired by ancient and contemporary Jewish traditions as well as other cultural influences.
The opening composition of the concert, "Prayers" by Israeli composer Noam Sheriff, is a marvelous display of contemporary musical texture with motific and rhythmic elements influenced by the music of Sephardic (Spanish) Jews, and other Middle Eastern cultures.
The next pieces by composers Ofer Ben-Amots and Andrea Hajdu are two exquisite concert works with the titles "Celestial Dialogues" and "Shout of a King". Both compositions are clearly connected to the popular musical and mystical language style of the West-East European Ashkenazic Jews which came to be known as Klezmer Music.
The term Klezmer results from the joining of the two words Kli (instrument) and Zemer (song). Klezmer music evolved from a union of vocal and instrumental styles. These styles are performed today at special celebrations, and were often used to accompany dancing.
The final selection in our season opening program is the "Concerto Grosso Number One for Strings, Orchestra and Piano Obligatto" by former Portland resident and internationally renowned composer Ernest Bloch. Bloch searched for, discovered, and developed a clearly Jewish voice through much of his music.
I am pleased to welcome the internationally acclaimed clarinetist David Krakauer, one of the most highly qualified Klezmer performers in the world, whose exciting personality, virtuosity, and gifts fully embody what Klezmer, instrument of song, brings to the world.
I would also like to welcome Yankl Falk, a true Jewish Troubadour with voice and spirit, who will sing the role of the Cantor in a marvelous dialogue with the clarinet.
I am looking forward to welcoming all of you to this event which will mark the beginning of the 58th season of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the beginning of the 5764th year of Jewish Cultural History.

Maestro's Musings are excerpted from Clef Notes, the newsletter of the Portland Chamber Orchestra.