Klezmer Duets For Clarinet/Accordion (Softcover Book)

This collection of duets arranged for clarinet and accordion is a comprehensive introduction to the Jewish musical tradition of klezmer. Pedagogically valuable, the collection inspires players to experience and understand the tradition on a deeper level. The seamless blend of composition and player - a characteristic feature of klezmer - makes Yiddish folk music especially enticing.

The characteristic mix of traditional themes (which are imaginatively developed and varied), hidden agogics, narrative style, and a wealth of sound possibilities make this genre truly unique. This explains the diversity of the 10 pieces that have been selected and arranged by the editors Christian Dawid and Alan Bern. The collection contains dancing, emotional, solemn, and lively pieces, with a stylistic complexity spanning from simple tunes to energetic rhythms. The melody, phrasing and ornamentation are to be understood as a natural representation of the human voice, which makes these pieces especially well-suited for the clarinet. The player must produce a clearly articulated sound and maintain a singing tone quality throughout. The development of technical ease and a strong rhythmic pulse add to the interesting challenge of truly understanding the art of klezmer.