NOTE: All information from the folkhögskola will be sent in Swedish.

KLEZMER – JEWISH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Welcome to a series of meetings dedicated to Klezmer music!

We will explore the fantastic and rich repertoire of Eastern-European and American Jewish instrumental folk music: its joyful and melancholic melodies, how to interpret and embellish them with traditional ornamentations, discovering the structure of the melodies and their modes, as well as how to accompany the various dance forms with their diverse and characteristic rhythmical patterns.

The course is taught by ear: participants must at least have intermediate knowledge of their instruments (no beginners), for example knowing the names of notes and corresponding positions on their instruments. At the end of each lesson, written material (music scores and so on) are handed out but we will not be reading from them in the class. Participants are expected to learn the melodies by heart in order to be able to proceed in learning how to embellish and accompany the melodies.

In addition, the participants will have access to Soundtrap, an online platform for recording multi-track, to be used as a tool for practicing at home and creating their own arrangements, and will be introduced to MuseScore, an open-source and free music notation software, to be used as a tool for analysis of the tunes learned in the class. The course usually concludes with a concert.

This course is given in English, in collaboration with Svenska Klezmerföreningen.

Prior knowledge
Open to instrumentalists with at least an intermediate level of experience on their instruments (no beginners). Due to its focus on melodies and ornamentations, the course is not suitable for guitar players. Participants are asked to bring their own instruments.

The participants will be divided into groups depending on the level of knowledge of their instruments and experience in learning by ear. Depending on how many groups and participants, each group will meet between 1-hour and/or 1,5-2 hours.

Course material
Course material is included in the cost for this course. Participants bring their own instruments.

About the teacher
Valeria Conte is a multi-talented Italian clarinettist who has been studying and performing Klezmer music since 2006 (www.valeriaclarinetta.com), investigating its connection to Jewish culture and civilization. She has attended various seminars and workshops about Klezmer music and Yiddish singing and culture in Europe and beyond. BA in classical clarinet and MA in global music, Valeria has been performing internationally within multicultural settings and other various World music styles. With her Klezmer quartet, Vallila Klezmorim, and in cooperation with Konserttikeskus (www.konserttikeskus.fi), Concert Centre Finland), she brought Klezmer musical culture to Finnish schools. She currently performs in Stockholm original arrangements of traditional and newly composed Klezmer melodies with her trio Valeria’s Klezmer Chariot (www.facebook.com/valeriasklezmerchariot).

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