New York Klezmer in the Early Twentieth Century: The Music of Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras
University of Rochester Press, Eastman/Rochester Studies in Ethnomusicology, 2020
Recipient of the book publication award of the Jewish Studies and Music Study Group of the American Musicological Society 2022.
“Rubin’s scholarly yet highly readable book is an important addition to the literature on the genre” (The Jewish Chronicle)
“New York Klezmer marks a milestone, not only for the study of klezmer music but also and especially for the study of performance practice. Lucidly written, this volume will greatly satisfy music researchers of all stripes … Free from highbrow academic jargon and equipped with a glossary, this book will also be a welcome read for generations of klezmorim. As such, it is not only highly recommended, it might remain unrivaled for some time.” (Tina Frühauf, Journal of Musicological Research)
“Rubin’s book, based on his 2001 PhD research but comprehensively updated, will doubtless stand as one of the defining scholarly pillars in this occasionally messy field. Not only does it provide the most detailed and fine-grained musical analysis of klezmer’s stylistic and structural elements seen to date, but the fact that this analysis is based upon a particular and clearly-defined corpus reduces guesswork and in fact allows larger conclusions to be more effectively drawn. …
“The many comments, opinions, recollections, and spoken expertise of these older musicians dot the text throughout, lending the narrative a vibrant level of historical detail and also an infectious and stylish tone of voice. …
“New York Klezmer also includes the ubiquitous companion website. But unlike many similar offerings, this one is maintained by the author and has clearly been given a great deal of thought. Boasting complete transcriptions and audio recordings, along with a discography and appendices of variant performances, transcriptions, and sheet music, it yields plenty of material that will be new to even the best-resourced klezmerphiles. In its simultaneous breadth and attention to detail, Rubin’s work reminds us of the necessity of the basic tools of ethnomusicology: fieldwork, interview, transcription, analysis, and from all this the drawing of meaningful conclusions.” (Phil Alexander, In Geveb)
“a classic of its discipline” (Judah Cohen, Yuval)
Since the 1970s, klezmer music has become one of the most popular world music genres, at the same time influencing musical styles as diverse as indie rock, avant- garde jazz, and contemporary art music. Klezmer is the celebratory instrumental music that developed in the Jewish communities of eastern Europe over the course of centuries and was performed especially at weddings. Brought to North America in the immigration wave in the late nineteenth century, klezmer thrived and developed in the Yiddish-speaking communities of New York and other cities during the period 1880-1950.
No two musicians represent New York klezmer more than clarinetists Naftule Brandwein (1884- 1963) and Dave Tarras (1897-1989). Born in eastern Europe to respected klezmer families, both musicians had successful careers as performers and recording artists in New York. Their legacy has had an enduring impact and helped to spur the revival of klezmer since the 1970s.
Using their iconic recordings as a case study, New York Klezmer in the Early Twentieth Century looks at the inner workings of klezmer dance music, from its compositional aspects to the minutiae of style. Making use of historical and ethnographic sources, the book places the music within a larger social and cultural context stretching from eastern Europe of the nineteenth century to the United States of the present.
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