Global Musics Ensembles

Klezmer Ensemble, directed by Brian Katz

West African Drumming & Dancing Ensemble, directed by Kwasi Dunyo

PROGRAM

University of Toronto Klezmer Ensemble

Abe Schwartz Bulgar

Abe Schwartz (1881-1963)

Mazltov #72

Trad. Collected by Moshe Beregovski (1892-1961)

Galitzianer Tantz (“Dance from Galicia”)

Shloimke Beckerman (1884-1974)

Chassidic Waltz/Flatbush Waltz

Trad/Andy Statman (b.1950)

Üsküdar'a Gider İken (While Going to Üsküdar)/Terk in Amerika

Trad/Naftule Brandwein

Nisht Gezorgt (Don’t Worry)

Trad. made famous by Dave Tarras (1895-1989)

Gankino Horo (Ganka’s Dance)

Trad Bulgarian

Der Gasn Nign (Street Tune)

Trad

Freylekh’s # 1&3 (Joyous, up-beat tunes)

Trad

Intermission

West African Drumming and Dancing Ensemble

Kyekyekule

A very popular radio and TV program for children in Ghana. Will be used as warm up for the students.

Fumefume

A social or recreational dance created from a Ghanaian religious music called Adevu by master drummer Mostafa Tetteh Addy of Ghana. 

Gahu

A social or recreational dance originated from Nigeria, among the Yuroba Tribe, where it  was named Kokosawa. When Ghanaians from the South eastern part of Ghana went there and saw the dance. They fall in love with it, brought back to Ghana, work on it, and gave it a new name “Gahu” meaning, expensive dance. Expensive because of nature of costumes used in the performance of the dance. Gahu is a circular dance.

Kpanlogo

A social or recreational dance originated from the Ga people of Ghana. They live in and around the capital, Accra.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO KLEZMER ENSEMBLE

Brian Katz, director

Nil Basdurak (TA), voice 
Farimah Khorrami, clarinet 
Cace Mercer, bass 
Sophie Reimer-Epp, violin 

Klezmer, the soul music of Eastern-European Jewry, can be considered an early form of “fusion," an amalgamation of Eastern-European based folk tunes/musical dialects mixed with indigenous Jewish sounds, particularly those rooted in the Chassidic tradition. Niginum, the wordless chant melodies of the Chassidim inform many klezmer pieces, as do the “yearning” melismatic outpourings of the synagogue chazzan, cantor. When klezmer arrived in America it again took new turns, incorporating aspects of American popular song as well as jazz. The University of Toronto Klezmer ensemble performs both old and new world klezmer, embracing a living tradition that continues to expand. In past years, the U of T Klezmer Ensemble have performed at the Ashkenaz Festival, The Four Seasons Opera Centre, and the Glenn Gould Theatre.

Brian Katz is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, pianist, recording artist, improviser, composer, music educator, and klezmer-at-large! As a performer and composer, he is noted for bringing classical and global music influences to modern jazz and Jewish music, and is highly regarded as a “free” improviser, where he blends many of his influences into coherent musical statements. Brian has just recorded several tracks for a compilation recording featuring Canadian Jewish composers and performers. Of his last solo recording, Leaves Will Speak, Jazz Podium (Germany) wrote:“If you want music that speaks—here it is.”  www.briankatz.com for more about Brian.  

WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING AND DANCING ENSEMBLE

Kwasi Dunyo, course director 
Nil Basdurak, teaching assistant 
Jeff Packman, coordinator

Connell-Owoh Jayla 
Tirone Diya 
Menard Kieran 
Roussain Ruby 
Wang Amanda 
Greenaway Harrison 
Inoue Korin 
Guan Jonathan 
Persaud Karis 
Mendis Andrew 
Varty Fiona 
Mashark Kwasi Dunyo, assistant