38th Annual Student Research Conference
Klezmer: a Vessel of Musical Culture Interpreted by Béla Kovács
Danilo E. Viquez-Poveda♦
Dr. Jesse D. Krebs, Faculty Mentor
Klezmer is an important musical style from the Jewish community in Eastern Europe, blending ancient Jewish heritage with Eastern European cultural elements. Its encounter with American music expanded its language, incorporating new improvisational and compositional techniques. Béla Kovács (1937-2022) recognized the significance of Klezmer in clarinet music, challenging classical norms and bringing it into contemporary performance. This presentation will contextualize Klezmer from its origins in Eastern Europe through its interaction with other musical traditions. This will help identify the elements Kovács used to pay tribute to the genre and, particularly, to Giora Feidman (b. 1936), one of its greatest performers. The presentation will include a live performance of Kovács' work "Sholem Alekhem Rov Feidman," showcasing the analyzed elements.
Keywords: klezmer, clarinet, kovacs, jewish, jazz, music
Topic(s):Folklore
History
Music
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA