Music and Friends May Save the World

Last evening was spent in the most pleasurable company of people with guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and a couple of recorders (the tootly kind) and even a clarinet. Yes, these amazingly tolerant folk tolerated and even encouraged (!!!) the presence of clarinet tootling in an old-time session.

What could they have been thinking?

I'll admit that the klezmerish tune "Beth Cohen's" was wonderful to play. You start out slow, with the unmistakeable klezmerish scale and rhythm, and ratch up the speed until it whirls like the wind. Someone shouts, feet stomp, and it's very fun.

I am not of Jewish descent, but I just love the Eastern European style of klezmer. Especially the traditional type.

I'm not interested in out-there deformations that go outside to supposedly take klezmer to another level - experiments. I value rhythm and music that revels in the beat and converses with the music.

A musical conversation makes sense and works together. You can always tell good klezmer music, even as it pushes the boundaries, by the way you feel and understand it. I love to listen to my Itzhak Perlman klezmer CD. It makes sense, it exhibits wonderful virtuousity, and it feels good to listen to.

My friends keep nudging me with the clarinet. I think it's getting to me. There is something fun about playing a spontaneous duet with someone who is singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Harmony in thirds for the part that goes:

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

And how do music and friends save the world? I think they help you dream and allow those dreams to come true:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

So get out there (or, for you introspective types, in there) and dream and let your friends help you understand there are possibilities and YOU may achieve them!

Your friend, Auriel