Syllabus MUEN 3640: UVA Klezmer Ensemble Class number 21122 Spring 2014

Prof.: Joel Rubin e-mail: [email protected] phone: (434) 882-3161

Time and location: Mondays and Wednesdays 7:30-9:30 pm, Old Cabell Hall Room 113

Office: 207 Old Cabell Hall, office hours M 12:30-1:30 pm or by appointment

Prerequisite: Intermediate to advanced skill on an instrument or voice (admission by audition at first class, Mon., Jan. 13, 2014 or by appointment)

Special events this semester:

Klezmer Workshop with Alan Bern, Sunday, Mar. 23, 11 am - 2 pm, Old Cabell room 107 Extra rehearsals Sun. Mar. 23, 6-9 pm, Old Cabell room 113 and Tues. Mar. 25, 7-10 pm, Old Cabell 113. Concert Thurs. Mar. 27, 8 pm in Old Cabell (sound check: 6 pm)

Recording sessions in conjunction with Mead Endowment: in April, tba

Description:

Under the direction of Director of Music Performance and acclaimed clarinetist and ethnomusicologist Joel Rubin, the UVA Klezmer Ensemble focuses on the music of the klezmorim, the Jewish professional instrumentalists of Eastern Europe, as well as related eastern European traditions. The ensemble is made up of both undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the greater Central Virginia community. The UVA Klezmer Ensemble is committed to ethnic, racial, cultural and religious diversity. Current and recent members have backgrounds from the US, Russia, Israel, Lebanon, Armenia, Iran, and India, with religious backgrounds ranging from Jewish to Christian, Hindu and Muslim. It is dedicated to exploring klezmer and other Jewish musical traditions from the 18th century to the present.

Now in its eighth year, the ensemble has rapidly become a vital part of the musical community of Central/Northern Virginia. Besides performing in Old Cabell Hall, recent appearances have included: the Tom Tom Founders Festival 2013, the Jewish Studies conference "Jewish Renaissance and Renaissances" at UVA, College of William & Mary and University of Richmond (at the annual conference of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology), Gravity Lounge, the 214 Community Arts Center (former Prism Coffeehouse), WeArts Festival (McGuffey Arts Center), New Bridges (Harrisonburg),

1 Congregation Beth Israel, Chabad of UVA, the Piedmont Council for the Arts' annual Spring for the Arts, the Charlottesville Festival of Cultures, and the Jewish Community Council (Lynchburg).

Klezmer was brought to North America by immigrants around the turn of the last century. Since the 1970's, a dynamic revival of this tradition has been taking place in America and beyond. Klezmer's recent popularity has brought it far from its roots in medieval minstrelsy and Jewish ritual and into the sphere of mainstream culture.

The Klezmer Ensemble at UVA performs at the end of each semester, often supplemented by performances at community events. Each year (and sometimes twice per year) the ensemble is coached by and plays together with a renowned guest artist. Recent guests have included: Cookie Segelstein and Joshua Horowitz (Veretski Pass, Budowitz); Frank London (Klezmatics); klezmer hip-hop artist Socalled (Abraham, Inc., Beyond the Pale, David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness!); innovative composer-clarinetist Michael Winograd (Yiddish Princess, Socalled, Frank London's Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Daniel Kahn's Painted Bird, Shtreiml, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb); violinist- composer Steve Greenman (Khevrisa, Stempenyu's Dream, Joel Rubin Ensemble); Alicia Svigals, co-founder of the Grammy-winning Klezmatics, trumpeter Susan Watts (Mikveh, Klez Dispensers, Frank London's Klezmer Brass All-Stars); trombonist Dan Blacksberg (Dan Kahn's Painted Bird, The Other Europeans, Michael Winograd Ensemble, Electric Simcha); the Kálmán Balogh/Ferenc Kovács Duo from Hungary (Other Europeans, Joel Rubin Ensemble); violinist David Chernyavsky (SF Symphony, Joel Rubin Ensemble); and tsimbl (hammered dulcimer player) Pete Rushefsky (Alicia Svigals, Steven Greenman, Joel Rubin Ensemble).

Our guest artist this semester will be accordionist, pianist and composer, Alan Bern (Berlin; www.alanbern.net), of Brave Old World and The Other Europeans, with residency week from Mar. 22-27 and concert on Thurs. Mar. 27 at 8 pm.

FOR AUDITIONS Admission by instructor permission. Audition is the first day of class in Spring 2014, Monday, January 13, 7:30-9:30pm, in 113 Old Cabell. In this ensemble, we begin focus on the klezmer traditions of North America, Eastern Europe and Israel from the 19th-21st centuries, as well as the music of related, non-Jewish traditions of Eastern Europe. This semester’s focus will be on the interaction between Jewish klezmorim and Romani lăutari (professional instrumentalists) in Moldova.

These musics were largely passed on orally from generation to generation, and many of the ornaments which are so integral to the klezmer sound can only be approximated by Western staff notation – not to mention the patterns of improvised variation which are the cornerstone of the style. There will therefore be an emphasis on learning by ear as much as possible. Sheet music with basic melodies and harmonies for each piece will be provided.

The following instruments are sought: violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba (and other low brass), percussion (drum set, xylophone), piano, and accordion, although others will also be considered. Restricted to instructor permission by audition. Please contact Dr. Rubin with any questions: [email protected]

2 Requirements:

Please note that fulfilling the basic requirements of the course will not result in an automatic “A.” Attendance at all class meetings is required. Any absences should be explained (preferably in advance). Explanation does not necessarily mean that the absence has been excused, however. More than 3 unexcused absences will adversely affect your grade. In addition, students who miss class are responsible for learning the material missed before the next class meeting.

Grades are calculated based on a combination of ablility, hard work (practice, improvement), and group particpation (including aspects such as showing intiative, contribution to the group and leadership skills). By mid-semester students will be offered an evaluation via e-mail of their work to date, including suggestions as to how they might improve their grade.

Students are expected to make every effort to participate in performances, as their schedules permit. You are also strongly encouraged to repeat the course so that you as an individual and the ensemble as a whole continue to develop. For this purpose, the course can be repeated several times for credit (up to 8 college credits in performance).

Students are strongly encouraged to bring a recording device to class to help with practice. All music is available on Collab, both in recorded and sheet music form.

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