Folk Notes The
Official Newsletter of the
Current issue and
archives at: www.oocities.com/tzorafolk
Contents: Editorial, Sarona,
Derek Bell. Farewells to Jane Gruman
Editorial: You Can't Play
That – It's MY Song
I was the one who introduced the folk
community of Israel to the works of Bob Dylan. You hear me? Nobody else sings Like
a Rolling Stone. I haven't heard anyone other than myself croon The
Times They Are a Changin'. And that's as it should be, because when people
in our folk community hear those songs, they associate them with me. Woe betide
anyone who dares perform these songs without my permission, which they will
never get. Since I am the one who does them, they have become, ex officio,
mine. I take back the ex. They unreservedly and quite deservedly, are
all mine.
No, I haven't gone totally off my rocker and
yes, of course I am speaking tongue-in-cheek. But the method behind the madness
is to focus on a phenomenon that seems common enough to warrant comment. Like
any other music, folk is a composite. As a matter of course we find a variety
of artists who have become associated in our minds with a particular style of
folk music. For instance, Judi Ganchrow shall forever remind us of the
dulcimer, while Lynn and Judi Lewis remind us of bluegrass. Marc
Miller makes us think of the blues and Lauren Ornstein makes us
think of witches. I have been called a rock’n’roller to my face!
Sometimes a particular artist is associated
with an instrument. Jonathan Miller is the violin player, while Danny
Sherbaum is the fiddle player. Marc Gittelson is the bass man and I
guess I shall be forever associated with the keyboard.
Obviously, each of us has songs that will
ever be associated with us as well. When you think of the Shopping Cart of
Love, you automatically think of Sandy Cash, etc. All of the artists
who perform in our midst and who contribute their material do all of us a
service, in that they create an ever-increasing commonwealth of music that is
the joy and property of all.
So what's the problem? Well, there have been
several instances of new and aspiring performers who have been reluctant to
play material associated with more established artists. For example, I'm sure all of you are familiar
with the beautiful voice of Yoav Biran. When he began to perform, a
couple of years ago, he introduced us to his rendition of the Scottish ballad Ferra
Bahta. This song had been performed heretofore by the Unstrung Heroes.
Thus, it was one of those “associated” songs. Yoav had strong feelings of
trepidation, as to whether he would be treading on anyone’s toes if he
performed it. Fortunately he overcame them and we are all the richer for it.
And the Unstrungs thus not only sang the song; they passed in on,
in the best tradition of folk music.
Unfortunately, there are a few among us who
think that the mere introduction of a song affords them the exclusive rights to
it. I am not going to name names. While this possessiveness is perhaps
understandable, it can't stand up to criticism. It should be obvious that the
only way an artist may be assumed to have rights over material is if it is
their own and copy- righted. If it is not, it belongs to everyone. This is true
of recent songs and how much more of more traditional ones.
This should not be taken to mean that
copycats are to be encouraged. The preempting of an artist's material – lock
stock and barrel – by another artist is totally unacceptable, and I am sure
that such a scoundrel would get short shrifted immediately.
There has to be a happy medium, and by and
large there is. Let me remind those few who would claim a pseudo copyright for
the material they do, that in the end not just their audience, but they are the
ones who stand to lose.
--Larry Gamliel
English Song Contest Cancelled
Due to a lack of response, the 2002 English
Song Festival has been cancelled.
A festival? Yes, well not really. A concert?
Yes, well not really. A workshop? Yes, well not really.
The second annual Sarona weekend has come and
gone and a good time was had by all. This festive concert with workshops is the
IFS at its best. Pretty much a grass- roots event, anyone who wanted to
contribute could, in pretty much anyway they wished.
The weekend began on Thursday evening at the
Karmiel Folk Klub with the likes of Judy Ganchrow, Shay Tochner, Cyrelle
Forman-Soffer, Alan Farrow, Marcie Schreier and Larry
Gamliel. The crowd, which exceeded 100 people, was ready for a good time
and they weren’t disappointed. The music continued for over 3 hours and the
weekend was just beginning.
Friday’s weather couldn’t have been any
better, sunny but not too hot. The morning’s first workshop was Larry
Gamliel and his multi- talented organ. This was followed by the dulcimer
petting zoo, complete with printed information for those who were too fuzzy
from lack of sleep to catch all the details.
Friday afternoon featured Larry Brandt
demonstrating that all you need is a pair of lips, beak or bill to play in his
brass band. We learnt the mating call of the gnu, the hippo and the aardvark,
and laughed the whole afternoon while actually learning a lot. That evening the
Abrasive Brass Band made its debut to the screams of
delight of the Sarona audience. On second thought, delight might not be
the correct word…
The fourth workshop of the day, about the
influence of African music, was given by Marc Miller. Not only a
musician of note, Marc is well read on the history of music, and has the
ability to pass on his knowledge in a most entertaining manner.
The final event was a square dancing
workshop led by the inimitable Cyrelle. Not a huge crowd, but a blast
nonetheless.
After a delicious Shabbos dinner, an
interesting dispute arose, which in a way was really representative of the
spirit of the weekend. The question was to use the stage in the Moadon, or have
the evening’s performance at ground level so there would be more of a kumsitz
atmosphere. For pragmatic reasons we used the stage, but the fact that the
organizers were trying to create an atmosphere of togetherness did not go
unnoticed, and was definitely a part of the whole weekend.
Dulcimer
Workshop
For lack of time and space I am not going to
critique or praise any one performer, but with the lineup that performed in
Karmiel, plus Shelley Ellen, Judy B-Z, Larry Brandt, Hachmoni
and a few others, you know the music was great. What does deserve mention is
the way the MCs, Jane Gruman and Larry Gamliel, did a great job.
Usually two shy, reserved people, they really played off of each other and
managed to overcome their stage fleft …
Friday night’s festivities didn’t end until
after 1:00 am and by the time we got into bed it was already the wee hours of
the morning. Saturday, another beautiful autumn day, was set at a more
leisurely pace. A storytelling workshop, given by Rina, actually called
for audience participation. Judy B-Z gave a small demonstration of how
she trains her magni- ficent voice in a workshop on vocals. She had us
vocalizing all kinds of strange sounds and managed to find a kind word even for
those of us that are stone cold tone deaf.
I had to leave early so I missed the final
jam, but kudos go out to Carol Fuchs and her committee and a BIG kol hakavod
to Della Littwin for hosting the weekend. Except for the lack of long haired
hippies, they did real good.
A closing comment from someone who is not a
musician and for many years was simply “the audience.” Though the weekend was
originally intended for performers to play together in a setting more
structured than a jam, Sarona has become a great chance for us, the audience,
to meet the artists. Since both audience and artists are pretty nice people, it’s
a pleasure for everyone to have a chance to get together at a more personal
level.
--Larry
Rosenfeld
Other Reactions to the Weekend
Kudos to everyone who worked on it for a
great weekend!
--Janet
Well, Sarona has come and gone, and we had a
great time…. I also think Judy G. and Larry B. deserve a special
thanks for bringing up all those instruments. As far as the workshops are
concerned, I think that good planning on the part of the instructors and the
pleasant cooperation of the partici- pants made the workshops both fun and
successful (whatever could be accom- plished in one hour was accomplished, more
or less).
--Judy B.Z.
Derek Bell (1935-2002)
Derek
Bell, harper extraordinaire with the great Irish ensemble The
Chieftains, died suddenly in October. He was thought to be recovering
from minor surgery. Occurring just days before his 67th birthday, his untimely
death has been a blow not only to his wife and fellow Chieftains,
but also to his myriad admirers the world over.
Derek Bell
(from http://members.shaw. ca
/chieftains/derek.html)
He was a
deeply talented musician, playing a range of instruments to envy: just listen
to his inspiring album mischievously titled Derek Bell Plays With Himself!
He took up the harp at a late stage – an inspiration to all of us would-be
harpers – then joined The Chieftains for several decades of joyous music-making.
His conservative appearance belied the impish humour and warmth of his character. I was privileged to chat with him a little back in 1992, and was nearly pulverised by the bear hug he gave me. When I expressed a wish that The Chieftains would play in Israel, he said: "Just send us the airfare!"
If you
have not listened to his recordings before now, I recommend that you do so
before long. We are lucky that Mr. Bell has left us all such a beautiful
legacy. RIP.
-- Jill Rogoff
Note: Derek Bell's albums (apart from his
recordings with The Chieftains) include
Derek Bell Plays With Himself; Ancient
Music for the Irish Harp; A Celtic Evening With Derek Bell; The
Mystic Harp (2 volumes); Carolan's Receipt; and Celtic Seasons of
Enchantment (with Will Millar). All of these are available at amazon.com
and other mail-order catalogues.
When Jane Gruman told me she had
decided to move back to the States for family reasons, it was a blow, both for
the music community and for me as her friend. Even though she promises to come
back for Jacob’s Ladder and Sarona, she’s still leaving a Jane-sized hole in
our hearts.
How can
I describe her? She is always there. Whether to hostess a party, hold a
practice session, help MC a performance, or just hold someone’s hand and give
them moral support. I can’t count the times she has reduced me to tears with
her rendition of Broken Wing or made us all hysterical with her “opera”
performances with Marcie Schreier – not to mention some of the
shenanigans (vocally, of course) she gets up to with Larry Gamliel.
On a
personal note, I can’t even number the times she has gone out of her way to
help me. She is a true friend, never asking questions, never passing judgment.
She is one of those human beings who live to help others – people or animals –
she never hesitates to give her all.
As part
of her Israeli family, I want to wish her all the best in her decision to
relocate back to the States, and I pray that she finds the peace there that she
so rightly deserves. Love ya, Sister. Hurry back!
--Beverly Burge
She's leaving us to return to her country
and her family, but to those of us she’s leaving behind it's hard, so hard,
because in a very real sense we are also her country and her family.
Jane Gruman to my mind is the living
personification of Elton John's Candle in the
Wind. I wonder if perhaps she might have a passing physical
resemblance to Marilyn Monroe as well? But for a while, someway, somehow, she
sojourned with us in a land that was not hers, and we loved her straight away.
Jane has a heart as deep and wide as the
proverbial
And now she is flitting away from us, she
says but for a while. I suppose not all
that many people of the folk community know her. I do, and what a friend she is. God speed
Janey. I hope you find what you are looking for. And don't forget to come back
home, to your family here who will always love you.
--Larry Gamliel
P.s. Is it just me or do all our friends seem to be leaving us? Where o where
has my harem gone?
Happy Birthday to: Razel Ackerman,
Deborah Fields, Chaim Gefen, Jane Gruman, Shelley Ellen, Fern Meiersdorf,
Nechama Silberman, Sue Tourkin-Komet, Dina Trachtman, Arlene Yaakov
Happy Anniversary to:
Marc & Ora, Hadar & Dena
Refuah Shlema to: Beverly Burge
after her recent surgeries; and to Meir
Ben Hazan.
NOT TRAD ADS - fee is NIS 10 (NIS 5 for members).
** Marc
Miller's CD Bring It With You When You Come. Contact Marc at
(055) 901-740 or e-mail him at mmiller@afik.org
or send a check for 50 NIS
(including postage and handling) made out to
Kibbutz Afik and send to:
Fatman Productions
Kibbutz Afik
Doar Na Ramat HaGolan 12938
Larry Gamliel wrote,
"Get it, whatever you do."
Ray Scudero wrote "My
only complaint is that he priced his work too low."
**Sandy
Cash's new CD, EXACT CHANGE, is available for 60 NIS, plus 15
NIS shipping (per order). Send a check, along with your name and shipping
information, to P.O. Box 1639, Bet Shemesh, 99522. For more information, call Sandy at (02)
991-9686 or contact her at: sandycash@bigfoot.com
**SHELLEY ELLEN
- guitar
lessons, also
available for performances (03)
674-5356.
**Jill Rogoff's
ACROSS THE NARROW SEAS (ALC 129) is available on cassette and CD.
Tel/Fax (02) 679-0410.
**DAY OF REST
-- Rahel Jaskow's CD. Renditions of traditional and slightly
off-the-beaten-track Sabbath songs. NIS 65 plus NIS 10 postage. Contact Rahel
Jaskow: rjaskow@actcom.co.il
** Voice and/or flute lessons. Call Marcie Schreier: (053)
834-174.
**Computer Support.
Free telephone support, and house calls. Very reasonable rates. Ben Hizak.
(050) 280-644.
**The New Country
Klezmers -- a foot-stompin' good time -- 2-5 musicians for your simchah.
Call David Baron (054) 955-997 or Bruce Brill (051) 565-479.
**CAPA (Computer
Assisted Production and Arranging) -- from your musical masterpiece to
demo, playback, finished CD? Call
David Baron (054)
955-997.
DISCLAIMER: FolkNotes is the
official publication of the Israel FolkStuff Society. Views are those of the
writers, not necessarily those of IFS.
FolkNotes and all of the
articles, photographs and material contained therein
are, unless otherwise
noted, copyrighted by IFS 2002.
The disclaimer is so
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are available on request.
FolkNotes Staff: Sherry Whetstone,
Larry Gamliel, Carol Fuchs, and Cecile Panzer
C A L
E N D A R
December 2002
JERUSALEM AREA:
Monday, Dec. 2, Monday night, at 8:00 PM. Sandy Cash
in Benefit Concert for the Jerusalem Democratic School. Kehillat Ramot Tzion, 68 Bar Kochba St.,
French Hill, Jerusalem. 40 shekels for adults and 15 shekels for youth (under
18) Info: 02-5356762
Thursday, December 12th,
8:30 pm. JERUSALEM FOLK CLUB – Songs of Chanuka, Christmas,
Solstice and other Pagan Holidays with Josh Goodman, Sandy Cash, Ray
& Joanna, Jill Rogoff, Yoav Biran, Cyrelle Forman-Soffer, and Marc
Gittelson. At the Tisch Family Biblical Zoo Auditorium. Admission NIS
25/20. For information call Larry (053) 801-202 or Carol (053) 850-098.
Saturday, December 14th,
9 pm. AACI/IFS Sing Thing. Elazar "Larry" Brandt and his Crazy
Rhythm Jazz Trio (plus a guest or two) will present an evening of old
time jazz standards, with audience participation.. At the AACI, 6 Mane St.
Admission NIS 30 (25 for members). For information call Larry (053) 801-202 or
Carol (053) 850-098.
Tentative fall Dulcimer Society
schedule: First 3 consecutive Mondays
(or sometimes Sundays) of the month. On
the 3rd Monday other instruments are welcome to come and play with
us. For information call Judi (02) 679-8448 or Dena (02) 561-8910.
TEL
AVIV AREA:
Wednesday, December 4th( during Hannukka ),
Bikurei Ha'itim, 6 Heftman St. Admission NIS 25. For information call
Ariela (03) 683-7441.
Wednesday, December 18th,
8:30 pm. With a new instrumental trio - Celtan ( temporary name )
: Iris Eyal, Gali Froilich-Glickman and Guy Kark; and Barry
"the Pirate" Gilbert. Bikurei
Ha'itim, 6 Heftman St. Admission NIS 25. For information call Ariela (03)
683-7441.
KIBBUTZ
TZORA and area
Monday, December 2nd, 8:30 pm. Bet
Shemesh Music Nite (BSMN) during Hannukah, at the home of Jody & Atara
Stein, Rehov Shimon 85 in Givat Sharett.
With percussionist David Fenster, Jony & Gideon, Erit
Gill and more! 10 NIS. For
information call Roby (02) 999-2106.
Directions for out-of-towners: As always, enter Bet
Shemesh via the southern entrance, turn right at the 1st circle (Rehov
Hadekel), travel about 1.5 kms till the 2nd circle on Hadekel (you'll see Ramat
Bet Shemesh up to the right) and make a U-turn, turn right at the 1st street
(Rehov Asher). Shimon is the 1st street on the left & #85 is about 100m up
on the right.
Wednesday, December 4th, 11:00 AM. Looking for a way-cool Chanukah activity?
Mark your calendars. it's. Sandy Cash for KIDS! - An
all-new musical program for children, age five and up, Sandy Cash for KIDS!
features stories and songs that will tickle your kids' funny bones, touch their
hearts, and keep them out of your hair for a solid hour.
Rehov Hashoshan 18 Aleph (the home of Debbie and Joel
Benstein). Fifteen shekels per person (of whatever age)
Wednesday, December 25th,
9 pm. KIBBUTZ TZORA FOLK CLUB. For information call Judi
& Lynn Lewis (02) 990-8382 or (051) 348-061 or email them at judilynn@tzora.co.il. Also see their website: www.oocities.org/tzorafolk
KARMIEL
AND NORTH
Ada will be continuing the Saturday
Morning Clil Concerts as usual, solo at times, with Diane at times,
and with others. For information or reservations call Ada (04) 996-9540 or
(050) 601-774 or Diane (04)980-0718.
Thursday, December 12th,
Saturday, December 21, Karmiel Hadassah Fundraiser for
"Children at Risk" - A Night on
Broadway featuring Shani Margolin, Larry Gamliel and
Marcie Schreier. For further details, call Larry Rosenfeld (04)
990-2455.
Try to get your information to us for the Calendar, as early as
possible, so we can meet publication deadlines (15th of each month). Contact
Larry Gamliel at (053) 801-202, or by email: carolf@savion.huji.ac.il
To receive the (more or less) twice-weekly email updates, write Carol:
carolf@savion.huji.ac.il
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to FolkNotes, discounts on IFS-sponsored concerts and Home Hoots, etc.
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