5 June 2020 – Shabbat is almost here
And in this turbulent times, we are together to reflect and enjoy. Today, Mr. David Krakauer, the wondrous clarinetist from New York, provides us an amazing tune and a heartfelt message, specially for us as recipients of Music Before Shabbat.
I feel so thankful to David that took a moment in this turbulent moments, specially for USA and for his city, New York, to send us a special message of good wishes and solidarity against racism.
The inspiration that a black musician provided him for creating an amazing composition is even more meaningful in these days.
| Listen David’s message, here |
David Krakauer’s Klezmer à la Bechet (feat. Nicky Parott in the bass)
I love the clarinet in klezmer. How not? A good clarinetist of klezmer makes the instrument talk, laugh and cry in an unpredictable flow that caresses your soul.
The “à la Bechet” refers to Sidney Bechet, a black composer, clarinetist and saxofonist from New Orleans, born in 1897 with an innate talent for music that would develope from a very young age. He is widely known, but if you want to learn more about his biography, check for instance this. And you can listen him playing clarinet here. David Krakauer calls Bechet his “teacher he never met”, as he explains in this interesting interview.
And David Krakakuer? Well, he is also a master, composer and clarinetist, recognized as one of the best clarinetists on planet Earth, with a strong career both in modern klezmer and in classical music.
David was born in 1956 in New York, where he lives. I mentioned him in this edition, related to Meshuge Klezmer Band and David’s initiative Music from the winery. So, apart of his own career, David provides dissemination of the work of other artists too.
David started in classical music and recovered the music of his ancestors in his early 30s, when he became curious about his ancestors. His grandparents arrived to the USA from Eastern Europe at the end of XIX century and, after the religious prosecution they had suffered, they decided to leave all that behind and to talk only English.
Two generations after, as David explains in this other interesting interview, that tradition was lost at the USA, but the people started to want that music for weddings, that music that the old people of that time had listened when they were kids. That was the beginning of the revitalisation of klezmer. You can check David’s website for more details about his career and projects.
Clic the picture to enjoy the outstanding David Krakauer with this piece from the album A New Hot One:
I hope you’ll like it and, if so, feel free to share it and invite your friends to join us.
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Shabbat Shalom.
Araceli Tzigane | Mapamundi Música