Concert: UVA Klezmer Ensemble under the direction of Joel Rubin with Latvian Fusion Artists Sasha Lurje and Ilya Shneyveys
Thursday, April 14, 2016, 8:00pm | Old Cabell Hall – Free

FULL DETAILS 

The UVA Klezmer Ensemble under the direction of Joel Rubin celebrates its 10th anniversary with a free concert full of cutting-edge reinterpretations of traditional Jewish music on Thursday, April 14, at 8pm in UVA’s Old Cabell Hall.

Ethnomusicologist, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Performance at UVA, Joel Rubin, has directed the Klezmer Ensemble for 10 years at the University of Virginia. The Klezmer Ensemble explores Jewish and other eastern European musical traditions. Throughout this decade, they have performed works from the 18th to the 21st century, becoming a vital part of the musical community of Virginia. This music was passed on orally for generations and can only be approximated by Western notation, so the musicians do most of their work by ear, often improvising over basic melodies and harmonies.  Musicians in the UVA Klezmer Ensemble are a diverse set of performers.  In the past decade their participants cultural backgrounds have ranged from all over the globe: the US, China, Israel, Lebanon, Armenia, Iran and India, and diverse religious backgrounds from Jewish to Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim.

This year’s guest artists are Latvian fusion artists, singer Sasha Lurje and keyboardist-arranger Ilya Shneyveys, along with trumpeter and composer John D’earth. Based in Berlin, Lurje and Shneyveys are at the forefront of the young generation of klezmer and Yiddish revivalists, performing all over the world with their psychedelic rock band Forshpil.

In their own words, “this is what it would have sounded like if Pink Floyd and The Doors had ever jammed together at a Jewish wedding,” so don’t miss this unique collaboration!

The UVA Klezmer Ensemble celebrates its 10th anniversary with a workshop, colloquium, and concert centered around cutting-edge reinterpretations of traditional Jewish music. This residency features Latvian singer Sasha Lurje and keyboardist Ilya Shneyveys who are at the forefront of the young generation of klezmer and Yiddish revivalists, performing all over the world with their psychedelic rock band Forshpil.

Everyone will have the chance to participate hands-on in the klezmer and Yiddish song workshop led by Lurje and Shneyveys, on Sunday April 10th at 11am in Old Cabell 107.

Then you can learn more about the origins of Jewish musical traditions and how they have transformed over the centuries at a public colloquium, Tuesday, April 12th at 12pmin Nau Hall 342. In addition, Associate Professor of Music Joel Rubin will moderate a discussion about the multicultural music scene in Berlin. Refreshments will be served, and we ask that you please RSVP to Kristin Hilgartner.

Finally, join the UVA Klezmer Ensemble under the direction of Joel Rubin with trumpeter John D’earth, and special guests, Latvian fusion artists, Sasha Lurje and Ilya Shneyveys, for a performance showcasing the unique sounds of the klezmer tradition ranging from its roots to the 21st century. In their own words, “this is what it would have sounded like if Pink Floyd and The Doors had ever jammed together at a Jewish wedding,” so don’t miss this unique collaboration.

CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS

UVA Klezmer Ensemble Workshop with Sasha Lurje and Ilya Shneyveys

Sunday, April 10 | 11:00am |  107 Old Cabell Hall  | Free  |  434.924.3052

The McIntire Department of Music presents a free hands-on workshop on instrumental klezmer music and Yiddish song with Sasha Lurje and Ilya Shneyveys (Riga/Berlin).

Colloquium: “The Jewish song collection of Latvian composer Emilis Melngailis, 1899 -1927: sources, song migration and transformation”

Tuesday, April 12 | 12:00pm  |  Nau 342  |  Free  

During his ethnographic expeditions in the period 1899 – 1927, prominent Latvian composer Emilis Melngailis (1874-1954) collected many folksongs, including Jewish songs and melodies. Some of them are versions of the repertoire popular at the time, and some are unknown from other sources. Ilya Shneyveys and Sasha Lurje have been researching the origins of these songs and bringing them back to life, performing and recording this unique material. Light refreshments will be served.  RSVP to Kristin Hilgartner.

Concert: UVA Klezmer Ensemble directed by Joel Rubin with special guests Sasha Lure and Ilya Shneyveys and John D’earth

Thursday, April 14 |  8:00pm  |  Old Cabell Hall  |  Free   |  434.924.3052

To celebrate the tenth year of the UVA Klezmer Ensemble under acclaimed clarinetist and ethnomusicologist Joel Rubin, the public is invited to attend a free concert of Klezmer and other Jewish and eastern European musical traditions. The Klezmer Ensemble will be joined by Latvian Fusion Artists Sasha Lure and Ilya Shneyveys, and John D’earth.  Expect a fusion of Yiddish songs, Klezmer tunes, spiced up with funk, reggae, and jazz.

Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of the Lawn, opposite the Rotunda. Parking is available in the Central Grounds Parking Garage, or in the lots off University Avenue at the Corner. Handicapped parking is available in the C1 parking lot or in designated spaces on McCormick Road. For more information, please call the McIntire Department of Music at 434-924-3052, or visit http://music.virginia.edu/klezmer-residency-2016.

This performance is made possible with support from the McIntire Department of Music, UVA Jewish Studies Program, the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, the Center for German Studies, the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, and the Office of the Provost and the Vice Provost for the Arts.