Klezmer Master Class
October 2002
The class was taken by Merlin Shepherd and held once again in the rather
nice big room tucked away in a corner of the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Klezmik
got us all in the mood with a tasty and well-attended set in the foyer between
1 and 2pm. Merlin joined in for a couple of numbers and blew up a storm.
The class was attended by 29 musicians including fiddles, clarinets, accordion,
mandolin, double bass, and a piano. It was good this time to have some people
of the young persuasion along. In the first half of the class, Merlin told
us all about what klezmer is, and taught us a lot about the ornamentation which
helps give klezmer it's special sound. In the second
hald he taught us a tune by ear before getting playing it on our instruments.
Merlin Shepherd biog Merlin is
a clarinetist who specialises in the Jewish instrumental music of Eastern Europe
commonly known as "Klezmer". His research into the field has taken him
to the Ukraine, Turkey and to the USA, where he has studied and is now a faculty
member of "Klezkamp", an annual study camp for Yiddish folk arts, held
in the Catskill mountains upstate New York, run by "Living Traditions".
Merlin is one of the few players of "traditional" klezmer in
Britain today. In order to acheive a sound and playing style that preceded the
modern American sound so familiar to most revivalists and audiences, he plays
on an antique "Simple" or "Albert" system clarinet, which
allows for older style ornamentation and sound. -
Merlin has been Klezmer music advisor (and clarinetist)
to the Royal Shakespeare Company for their 1992 production of "The Dybbuk".
-
Performed the World premier of "Kol
Simcha" by Adam Gorb, for London Musici and Rambert Dance Co. -
Composed scores for many dance and theatre companies.Worked
as on and offstage musician for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National
Theatre, Royal Exchange, Manchester. Jan-Mar 1997, -
onstage Klezmer musician in RSC's "Cherry Orchard". -
International performances, TV and radio appearances, with
New Presumption, Merlin Shepherd Klezmer Trio, The Burning Bush, RNT. -
Merlin also works with "Budowitz" a quintet of
specialist klezmer musicians playing the instrumental music of 19th century East-European
Jews. Photos of the workshop
As these photos clearly illustrate, a disposable camera is
not suitable to take pictures in a workshop like this! |
