On the two Perlman Plays Klezmer albums, Itzhak Perlman revisits the traditional folk music that filled the streets of Tel Aviv during his childhood.
Historical Context
Klezmer music, whose repertoire is still very much alive, has its origins in the celebrations and dramas of the thousand-year history of the Jews of Central Europe.
Compositional Technique
The works on this album, mostly contemporary, feature an effortless blending of voice and violin with woodwind instruments, particularly clarinet, as well as accordion or banjo.
Cultural Impact
This double album serves as a memorial to music full of warmth and melancholy, stemming from a tradition intertwined with gypsy music, whose vibrant language must be preserved for future generations.
Composition History
The album Tradition, made ten years earlier with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, was a first step in the commemorative process of preserving Jewish folk music.
Interpretation
Itzhak Perlman's ability to reproduce the characteristic timbres, bowings, and fingerings of klezmer music allows him to blend seamlessly with genuine Yiddish klezmer bands, putting his classical training aside.
Performer Biography
Itzhak Perlman's journey into Jewish folk music on this album is not his first departure from classical music; he has also recorded Scott Joplin rags, blues albums, and jazz melodies.
