Klezmer Duets - Clarinet & Accordion

As an absolute fusion of composition and interpretation, Yiddish folk music continues to exude its charm to this day. With a blend of traditional themes that can be developed and varied in their richness of ideas, it thrives on its hidden agogics, its diversity of sound possibilities, and its narrative character. This explains the variety of the 10 repertoire pieces for clarinet and accordion edited by Christian Dawid and Alan Bern: from dance-like, emotional, and festive to lively character, ranging from simple melodic arcs to energetic rhythms, the expressive stylistic complexity is vast.

Always close to the human voice, the melodic line, as well as the naturally flowing phrasing and ornamentation, give the clarinet interpretation its absolute validity. The clear articulatory tone production required here gains great importance alongside the consistently desired cantability, which, combined with technical ease and a rhythmically pulsating development, presents an exciting challenge in internalizing the art of Klezmer music.

10 traditional Klezmer pieces at an intermediate level of difficulty. Helpful notes on notation, ornamentation, articulation, and technical execution assist in approaching the typical Klezmer stylistics and the associated sound. Detailed additions regarding the origins and history of each piece are included. Authentically recorded videos by the two editors illustrate and support a tradition-appropriate interpretation.