2008 Woodie Awards
Graduate student forms Yiddish music ensemble
Jessica Lillard
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Campus
The newly formed Yiddish music-playing Klezmer Ensemble anticipates an upcoming performance April 28.
Miami University music performance graduate student Will Cicola formed the the Klezmer Ensemble to help revive the Yiddish music of the early 15th century. Studying music performance at the School of Fine Arts, Cicola has extensively studied Yiddish music throughout his studies.
"(Yiddish language) has its roots in the dance and celebratory music of the Yiddish-speaking Jews of Eastern Europe, and was recorded extensively in the early 20th century at the height of Jewish immigration to the United States," Cicola said.
Klezmer music disappeared in the 1940s due to a loss of American demand for the ensembles, but it was revived in the 1970s by a number of musicians and is still being played today.
According to Cicola, the music is characterized by expressive melodies. Typical instruments include the accordion, tuba, piano, violin, clarinet and trombone.
First-year saxophone player Matt Levy described the music as traditional Yiddish folk music.
"It's music that you can get up and dance to," Levy said. "It's very lively and soulful and more than anything, just a lot of fun to listen to."
Cicola, a clarinet player, formed the group at the beginning of the fall 2007 semester.
"It took a while to build the group," Cicola said. "At one point we had only three clarinets and a cello, but eventually we reached the point where we are today."
The group is self-sponsored, with Cicola paying for the costs of recording and promotion out of his own pocket.
Many professors have donated their time to help the ensemble, including Michele Gingras, a professor of music professor, and Srinivas Krishnan, a faculty member with the Center for American and World Cultures.
Some students in the ensemble said they decided to get involved because of Cicola's leadership skills, the laid-back atmosphere of the group and the fact that Klezmer music is very unique.
Miami University music performance graduate student Will Cicola formed the the Klezmer Ensemble to help revive the Yiddish music of the early 15th century. Studying music performance at the School of Fine Arts, Cicola has extensively studied Yiddish music throughout his studies.
"(Yiddish language) has its roots in the dance and celebratory music of the Yiddish-speaking Jews of Eastern Europe, and was recorded extensively in the early 20th century at the height of Jewish immigration to the United States," Cicola said.
Klezmer music disappeared in the 1940s due to a loss of American demand for the ensembles, but it was revived in the 1970s by a number of musicians and is still being played today.
According to Cicola, the music is characterized by expressive melodies. Typical instruments include the accordion, tuba, piano, violin, clarinet and trombone.
First-year saxophone player Matt Levy described the music as traditional Yiddish folk music.
"It's music that you can get up and dance to," Levy said. "It's very lively and soulful and more than anything, just a lot of fun to listen to."
Cicola, a clarinet player, formed the group at the beginning of the fall 2007 semester.
"It took a while to build the group," Cicola said. "At one point we had only three clarinets and a cello, but eventually we reached the point where we are today."
The group is self-sponsored, with Cicola paying for the costs of recording and promotion out of his own pocket.
Many professors have donated their time to help the ensemble, including Michele Gingras, a professor of music professor, and Srinivas Krishnan, a faculty member with the Center for American and World Cultures.
Some students in the ensemble said they decided to get involved because of Cicola's leadership skills, the laid-back atmosphere of the group and the fact that Klezmer music is very unique.
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IRV BLOOM
posted 5/04/08 @ 2:25 AM EST
Mazel Tov! Zolst du gahen mit glick und nachus!
Amazon Herbs
posted 6/05/08 @ 4:25 AM EST
Before Israel was created in 1948, Yiddish was a living language and Hebrew was a dead language. Now Yiddish is a dead language and Hebrew is a living language. (Continued…)
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