| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE |  |
AUGUST 2015 | ||
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| TOWER OF SONG | |
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Happy 80th Birthday Leonard Cohen Sophie Solomon and Lail Arad bond over Leonard Cohen with songs, stories and special guests on his 80th Birthday Year. Lail Arad released her song 1934 (A Song For Leonard Cohen) last September, to celebrate the 80th birthday of her songwriting hero. The song, described as "Sprightly, feather-light and witty" by the Financial Times and "A beautiful love song to Leonard Cohen" by Paper Magazine, was included as the bonus track on the Les InRocks cover-mount compilation Songs of Love and Love: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen. It was the first preview track let loose from Lail's forthcoming second album The Onion, recorded between Geneva and NYC and set for release later this year. Lail and JMI's Artistic Director, the leading Klezmer violinist, Sophie Solomon have teamed up together to celebrate the work of Leonard Cohen. Sophie led an all star cast of musicians for a night of words and music of Leonard Cohen, for the opening of Jewish Book Week 2013 and the live footage of that event can be viewed here |
Concert info: |
| THE GOLDEN PEACOCK & OT AZOY | |
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Sing Yiddish Our annual summer song school returns this year with the addition of new faculty, courses and syllabus. Once again the course will provide complete immersion in Yiddish song and song culture. Each day will start with a repertoire class and will be followed by a teaching class.There will be a repertoire class in the afternoon, followed by masterclasses and a Yiddish Choir for all. This year the confirmed faculty so far are course leader Shura Lipovsky, Berlin's Yiddish folk-bard Karsten Troyke, Alex Knapp, Rachel Weston and we are pleased to confirm that Lorin Sklamberg of Klezmatics/YIVO will be coming all the way from New York to teach on the faculty this year. Singers will also be taught Yiddish for Singers with Helen Beer and no day will be complete without joining in the Yiddish choir. There are also social events, Yiddish theatre, film, concerts and much more, so do not delay and book your place early. We interviewed Shura Lipovsky, Karsten Troyke and Lorin Sklamberg from the faculty about their love of the music, the songs and the culture. To hear that feature and to book your place, please visit here |
Song School: Date: 9 - 14 August Time: 930am - 8pm Venue: LSOAS, Vernon Sq. Price: £245 - £130  |
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| KLEZFEST | |
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Learn Klezmer We are very happy that our world famous Klezmer summer school is back again for 2015. Join the world famous music school and learn klezmer this summer at KlezFest 2015. Here is a peek into what you can expect: • Hands-on tutoring from world leading experts. • Traditional klezmer; history, melodies, ornamentation, dance and accompaniment • Play music in ensembles and delve into improvisational techniques • Interpret scores, jam and perform to the public. The international faculty will feature some of the very best klezmer musicians from around the world: Dr Alan Bern (Piano / Accordion – Germany) Ilana Cravitz (Violin – UK) Joel Rubin (Clarinet – USA) and outstanding guest tutors from the UK will be joining the faculty for masterclasses. Please keep yourself updated by checking the website. Minimum instrumental proficiency, Grade 5 or equivalent; no klezmer experience necessary. All are welcome. We interviewed Ilana Cravitz, Alan Bern, Joel Rubin and Susi Evans and to hear that feature and for more information on the course, including how to book please visit our website here |
Klezmer School: Date: 18 - 21 Aug Time: 930am-10pm Venue: SOAS, Vernon Sq. Price: £165-£120 |
| GOLDEN PEACOCK CONCERT | |
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Diversity of Yiddish Vocal Culture The Golden Peacock song school will begin with a concert by the faculty of JMI's Yiddish Summer program. The concert will not only showcase the wealth of talent by the individual performers but also the vocal diversity in Yiddish culture. Shura Lipovsky (Course director) is a highly valued performer and composer of new Yiddish songs. Karsten Troyke, is a Yiddish folk-bard with rare pieces of tango, folklore and theatre songs. Lorin Sklamberg is one of America's most celebrated contemporary Yiddish singers, a member of The Klezmatics and sound archivist at YIVO. Rachel Weston is a singer and song collector of Jewish and Yiddish repertoire and masters graduate from SOAS. Alex Knapp, a recognised academic composer and pianist, will accompany the singers on the grand piano. This concert will be free to all students on both the Ot Azoy Yiddish Language course and the Golden Peacock Yiddish Song School. Members of the public who are not yet registered on the course will need to purchase tickets from our website here |
Concert info: Date: Sun 9th August Time: 3.15pm-4.30pm Venue: DLT, SOAS, Russell Sq. Price: £7.50-10 |
| YIDDISH CINEMA | |
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Yiddish on film Come and enjoy the very best in Yiddish Film with pre-screening talks with Yiddish cinematic expert, Barry Davis. Every August JMI hosts its Yiddish Summer School at SOAS, dubbed by many of its international attendees as “a week in Yiddishland” this course immerses its students in the culture, language and songs of Yiddish. More details for those interested in the wider program can be found here Sholem Aleykhem wrote Blonzhedike shtern (Wandering Stars) about the Yiddish theatre before 1914. Yiddish film-making between the wars was, however, mostly centred on New York and its environs, Warsaw and Moscow. We look at three of these stars, in films made in New York and Warsaw. This selection of films is brought to you by JMI at SOAS in conjunction with UK Jewish Film Festival Students of the summer school need not re-apply for tickets as they are included within the wider education programme. . |
Screening info: Dates: 10-11-12 Aug Time: 5.30-8pm Venue: SOAS, Vernon Sq. Price: £4.50-10 |
| KLEZFEST FACULTY CONCERT | |
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Celebrate Klezmer An evening of klezmer superstars, showcasing the international musicians from this year’s JMI’s Klezfest summer school. This is a rare chance to hear significant players in the klezmer revival movement performing with some of the most exciting young klezmer bands around. Alan Bern and Joel Rubin
Two musicians who were pivotal in the Klezmer revival, and founders of the band Brave Old World. Joel Rubin is worldwide authority and sought after performer, with his own ensemble. Alan Bern founded The Other Europeans, Diaspora Redux and is the artistic director of Yiddish Summer Weimar.
London Klezmer Quartet
This dynamic band have been in demand since their inception in 2009, with an international following. And the UK press adore them.
"Virtuosity, exciting original tunes and soulful playing. What's not to like?”Songlines Magazine, “The tradition is safe in their hands." Sunday Times, "Dynamic and authentic." Time Out London "Atmospheric albums." fROOTS Don Kipper
This young, award-winning, band play and transform a wide range of musical forms, from Turkish Fasıl and Greek Rebetiko to Gypsy Jazz and Klezmer. Rooted deeply in these traditions, they seek to explore radical interpretations and taut arrangements full of complex harmonies, polyrhythms and imaginative improvisation.
Students of the summer school need not re-apply for tickets as they are included within the wider education programme. |
Concert info: Date: Wed 19 Aug Time: 815pm-1030pm Venue: JW3 Price: £10 |
| ALBUM LAUNCH: CHEKOV'S BAND | |
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Eastern European Klezmer Music from the EMI Archives: 1908-1913 “Our famous, Jewish orchestra, you remember, four violins, a flute and a double bass” (Gayev in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, 1904) Renair records are proud to announce the fourth of their series of issues exploring the story of Jewish recorded music. For more than one-hundred years the recordings on this CD had lain forgotten and unheard in the EMI archives. This ground breaking release of these extraordinary early recordings rewrites the story of Jewish instrumental music. Their exuberance and life affirming feeling allow us a glimpse into a world that has completely vanished. |
Launch info: Date: Thu 20 Aug Time: 630-9pm Venue: Jewish Museum, Camden Price: Free (booking required) |
| KLEZMER IN THE PARK | |
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The Festival Returns JMI's unique annual festival, Klezmer In The Park, returns again to Regents Park Bandstand. This year we have another brilliant musical line up for you to enjoy. Come on down for a fun-packed afternoon for all the family in one of London’s most beautiful parks with special guest presenter BBC Radio 3 DJ Max Reinhardt. 12.15pm: JFS Klezmer Band 1pm: Don Kipper 2pm: Stewart Curtis’ K-Groove 3pm: The Turbans 4pm: She’Koyokh 5pm: Tantz Visit our Kids Zone featuring workshop and activities run by Jewish community organisations. Klezmer in the Park features Judaica and Jewish music stalls. Enjoy Kosher Food, Klezmer on Stilts and much more. |
Festival info: Date: Sun 6th Sep Time: 12-6pm Venue: Bandstand, Regents Park Price: Free |
| MANCHESTER KLEZMNER DAY | |
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Northern Klezmer Come along and engage with the music that is both exhuberant and tinged with melancholy. Learn to play in an authentic Klezmer style with some of the UK's top Klezmer musicians. Susi Evans, on clarinet plays with bands She'Koyokh and London Klezmer Quartet. Frances O'Rourke on piano accordion has also performed with London Klezmer Quartet. Josie Wexler on fiddle, sings and plays with Minnie Moosika in Sheffield. The dance leader will be Kleznorth's Judith Plowman who has been running Klezmer dancing classes in Manchester for several years. Suzi Evans - clarinet (London)
Josie Wexler - fiddle (Sheffield)
Frances O'Rourke - piano accordion (Manchester)
Judith Plowman - dance leader (Glossop)
Expect to learn about history, types of tunes, style and ornamentation. Join the Klezmer dance orchestra and perform in the evening 'Klezmer Keilidh'
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Klezmer day info: Date: Sat 19 Sep Venue: St Matthews, Stretford Price: £8-25 |
| PRELUDE TO MENUHIN CENTENARY | |
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Century of Menuhin In the lead-up to the Menuhin Competition London 2016, 1989’s 1st Prize winner Joji Hattori and Menuhin Competition Austin 2014 Junior prize-winner Ludvig Gudim perform a gala concert with the Orpheus Sinfonia in the awe-inspiring iconic Temple Church on the banks of the River Thames. Presenting a programme spanning Bach’s vibrant Concerto for Two Violins to Poulenc’s remarkable Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings featuring Temple Church’s wonderfully restored organ, this concert is guaranteed to be a truly unique evening of world-class performance, and a fitting prelude to Menuhin’s centenary in 2016. A Prelude to Menuhin’s Centenary is part of Totally Thames and held in support of the Menuhin Competition London 2016 |
Concert info: Date: Tue 22 Sep Time: 7pm Venue: Temple Church, London Price: £25-35 |
| JMI'S TOP PICKS | |
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Steve Reich London Sinfonietta launch the Steve Reich's Clapping App. 'In 1972 I composed a piece called Clapping Music and all it needs is your two hands. This app is very helpful: it teaches you to play the piece and it prepares you to perform it live. It's a bit of a challenge but an interesting one, and you can download it for nothing.' (Steve Reich) Saturday 1st August The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall. Free Details here Jocelyn Pook (pictured) Two compositions by the composer of JMI's outstanding multi-media composition Drawing Life, will be performed at Kings Place. These pieces of Jocelyn Pook's will be performed by celebrated singer Melanie Pappenheim and are directed by cutting edge dramaturg Emma Bernard. Hearing Voices Thursday 6th August Kings Place Details here Anxiety Fanfare and Variations for Voices Friday 7th August Kings Place Details here Boomtown This independent festival, set up as an alternative town with nine different 'districts' to visit. Alongside the upfront dance music districts, is a whole district devoted to electro-swing, Gypsy, Balkan, and klezmer. This year, pioneers of contemporary klezmer, Amsterdam Klezmer Band, rock the district called the 'Old Town' with their ska-infused Jewish beats, alongside Tantz, a storming band whose Yiddish name invokes the mitzvah to dance. Firm favourites of JMI's; Tantz performed at last year's Klezmer in the Park and went down so well, they've been invited back for 2015.
13th-16th August Winchester Details here |
| BBC PROMS 2015 | |
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A cultural cornerstone of the British musical establishment, the BBC Proms 2015 will offer the public an enormous choice of music from across both classical and contemporary genres with many Jewish composers included in the program. See details below.Prom 24: Mahler Monday 3 Aug 2015 Royal Albert Hall 7.30pm Details here Proms Extra: Pierre Boulez Wednesday 12 Aug 2015 Royal College of Music 4.45pm Details here Prom 36: Pierre Boulez Wednesday 12 Aug 2015 Royal Albert Hall 6.30pm Details here Prom Chamber Music 5: Sondheim Monday 17 Aug 2015 Cadogan Hall 1pm Details here Prom 44: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Tuesday 18 Aug 2015 Royal Albert Hall 730pm Details here Prom 49: Mahler Saturday 22 Aug 2015 Royal Albert Hall 6.30pm Details here Proms Saturday Matinee 4: Pierre Boulez Saturday 29 Aug 2015 Cadogan Hall 3pm Details here Prom 60: Mahler Sunday 30 Aug 2015 Royal Albert Hall 7.30pm Details here |
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| CRITICS PICKS | |
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Klezmer Jam Sunday 2nd August The Harrison Kings Cross Details here Tantz August 3rd Sidmouth, UK August 5th Square & Compass Pub Worth Matravers, UK August 6th Wilderness Festival Oxford, UK August 8th Belladrum Festival Inverness, UK August 14th Rollright Fayre Banbury, UK August 15th Boomtown Fair Winchester, UK August 21st Greenman Festival Powys, UK August 23rd Doune The Rabbit Hole 2013 Stirling, UK All details here Polina Shepherd (pictured) Brighton Beautiful: workshop & concert Join Polina and Judith for a weekend celebration of song: a workshop and a concert of traditional Russian, Yiddish and other songs from two international performers and singing leaders Judith Silver and Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd. 22-23 August Details here London Klezmer Quartet LKQ + 2 other bands at the Woodburner, Hackney's weekly folk club. Wednesday 25th August Details here Crossing Jerusalem Throughout August Park Theatre 4th - 29th August Details here |