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Composer/performer Stuart Brotman, collaborating with colleagues
Marlene Segelstein and Joshua
Horowitz, and with Temple Israel of
Alameda, will create a purely instrumental concert suite in klezmer
style for chamber trio, in the form of a traditional Jewish religious
service, and premiere it at three Bay Area Jewish institutions.
The artists write, “We are interested in the possibility that
music devoid of language can be a unifying force in a world divided
by doctrine. It is our hope to create a new body of Jewish
religious music that will have emotional power comparable to that
of traditional synagogue singing, and that will provide an experience
derived from, but not specific to, devotional music.”
Stuart Brotman will lead the composition, preparation, and performance
of the music with the klezmer ensemble Veretski Pass—a respected
ensemble of which he is a founding member. The group was formed
by Marlene (“Cookie”) Segelstein and is named for her
father’s birthplace. Mr. Segelstein, a Holocaust survivor,
came from a multi-cultural area of what is now the Ukraine with an
active Jewish secular and religious musical life.
Veretski Pass consists of Ms. Segelstein (violin and viola), Mr.
Horowitz (accordion and tsimbl), and Mr. Brotman (string bass and
shepherd’s flute). The artists each have more than 20
years of experience teaching klezmer music in North America and Europe. They
will be working in musical styles rooted in 19th and early 20th century
Ashkenazic, Jewish cantorial, and klezmer traditions.
The artists will collaborate closely with Josh Cohen of Temple Israel
of Alameda. Mr. Cohen, who is a respected classical musician, conductor,
and presenter, as well as an authority on Jewish liturgical music,
will form a working committee of congregants from the Temple, who
will give feedback on the musical and liturgical appropriateness
of the work. The artists will present small-scale test performances
of the work-in-progress at Temple Israel’s Music Shabbat Services,
held the second Friday night of the month. The artists and
Mr. Cohen also will form an advisory council composed of religious
music scholars and performers in the Bay Area.
Stuart Brotman was co-founder of Los Angeles’ first two klezmer
revival bands in 1976-77, Chutzpah and Ellis Island, and has performed
with many of the most highly respected klezmer ensembles, including
Brave Old World, The Klezmorim, Khevrisa. and The San Francisco Klezmer
Experience. He performed with Itzhak Perlman in the concert tours
and PBS special “In the Fiddler’s House” with
Brave Old World and Andy Statman He describes himself as “a
Jew from a family which was non-observant, but which nevertheless
enjoyed a strong relationship to traditional Ashkenazic (Eastern
European Yiddish-speaking) Jewish culture.”
Stuart A. Brotman
Selected Discography
- “Stempenyu’s Dream,” Steven Greenman,
CD (2004)
- “Veretski Pass,” Veretski Pass, CD (2004)
- “Bless the Fire,” Brave Old World,” CD (2003)
- “Life of the Worlds,” Richard Kaplan, CD (2003)
- “European Klezmer Music,” Khevrisa, CD (2000)
- “Di Shikere Kapelye,” Frank London’s Klezmer
Allstars, CD (2000)
- “Judith,” Davka, CD (1999)
- “Blood Oranges,” Brave Old World, CD (1997)
- “Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler’s House,” and “Live,
In the Fiddler’s House,” with Brave Old World,
Andy Statman, CDs (1995)
- “Jüdische Lebenswelten,” with Brave Old World,
Epstein Bros, CD (1993)
- “Beyond the Pale,” Brave Old World, CD (1992)
- “Klezmer Music,” Brave Old World, CD (1990)
- “Metropolis,” The Klezmorim (producer), LP (1981)
- “Jazz,” Ry Cooder, LP (1978)
- “Streets of Gold,” The Klezmorim, LP (1978)
- “When Scopes Collide,” Kaleidoscope, LP (1976)
- “The Incredible Kaleidoscope,” Kaleidoscope,
LP (1968)
Joshua Horowitz
Selected Discography
- “Veretski Pass,” CD (2003)
- “American Classics: Abraham Ellstein, Great Songs
of the Yiddish Stage,” (with Vienna Chamber Orchestra) CD
(2003)
- “Fialke: A grus fun der alter heym,” CD
(2003)
- “Wedding Without a Bride,” Budowitz,
CD (2000)
- “Klezmer: The Rough Guide, Jewish Traditions: shtetl roots
and new world revival” (compilation), CD (2000)
- “The Soul of Klezmer, RÍve Et Passion” (compilation),
CD (1998)
- “Mother Tongue, Music of the 19th Century Klezmorim,” Budowitz,
CD (1997)
- “Fidl,” Alicia Svigals, CD (1997)
- “Musical Expeditions: Klezmer” (compilation), CD
(1996)
- “Rudolstadt Tanz & Folk Fest ‘96” (compilation),
CD (1996)
- “Horowitz and Laesser Burgenlaendischer Advent II,” CD
(1996)
- “Doyres” (compilation), CD (1995)
- “Bessarabian Symphony,” Rubin & Horowitz, CD
(1994)
Marlene “Cookie” Segelstein
Recordings and Appearances
- “Veretski Pass,” CD (2004)
- “The Protocols,” Hank Sapoznik and the Youngers
of Zion, CD (2004)
- “Sex and the City,” soundtrack, HBO (2004)
- “Take That,” Karen Mack, CD (2002)
- “Klezmer Goes Hollywood,” Sheldon Cohen, CD (2003)
- “A Sacred Noise,” television appearance, ABC documentary
(2000)
- “International Klezmer Bands,” Helfen Kosovo (compilation),
CD (1999)
- “The Klezical Tradition,” Family Portrait,
CD (1998)
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