Reviews - Klezmer Nutcracker/Shirim Klezmer Orchestra

Renaissance Man Review

Artist:   Shirim Klezmer Orchestra
Album:    Klezmer Nutcracker
Date of
Release: 1998
Label:    Newport Classic
Cat. No.: Newport Classic 85640
ASIN:
Country: US
Genre/s: 1) World|Jewish
          2) Classical
Sub-
Genre/s: 1) Klezmer, Other
          2) Light Classical, Crossover
Type:     Studio
Time:     49:44
Date of
Review:   2003/04/01
Web site: http://www.shirim.com/

Purchasing Info!

Klezmer Nutcracker - Cracked!
Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's album "Klezmer Nutcracker" was originally released in 1998 on the Newport Classic label.
The Klezmer Nutcracker Suite that gives this album its title consists of the first seven tracks. It is Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's manic, humerous, "klezzified" re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky. It's done with great panache, charm and wit, in a style very much their own and original. No simple klezmer-classical crossover, this. Shirim take the Tchaikovsky material and turn it upside down and inside out, changing rhythms and notes as it suits, and give it a thoroughly klezmer treatment. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy becomes "The Dance of the Latkes Queens", and you'll never listen to a straight performance of the original in quite the same way again! This suite might even have cheered up poor old Tchaik himself! It also and coincidentally makes for a great, light-hearted way of introducing kids to Tchaikovsky and classical music generally, and for that matter, to klezmer at the same time. The Klezmer Nutcracker Suite is just adorable and hugely enjoyable - what more could one possibly say?
The second part of Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's "Klezmer Nutcracker" gives a similarly manic and irreverent treatment to assorted works by Mahler, Enesco, Satie, Brahms and Chopin (some in turn based on Jewish/Eastern European themes), and a couple of traditional klezmer standards are also included. The result is as charming and witty as the Klezmer Nutcracker Suite itself. "Gustav's Wedding" from Mahler's First Symphony appropriately returns Mahler to his Jewish musical roots as it were, from whence this music came in the first place. Enesco's "Romanian Rhapsody" is simply breathtaking. Satie is much improved with Shirim's versions of "Gnossienne 1" and 2 and 3, and Gymnopedie 3. "Hungarian Goulash" gives Brahms' Hungarian Rhapsody an "authentic", humourous treatment that cannot fail to delight.
The outstanding arrangements on this album are complemented by equally outstanding musicianship and technical excellence. Shirim (who incidentally also have a somewhat more avantgarde incarnation, as Naftule's Dream) are an extremely accomplished band, and the humour and fun of this album are infectious.
"Klezmer Nutcracker" as a whole cannot fail to delight. In it, Shirim Klezmer Orchestra have created a perennial favourite that ought to be found in any classical/light classical music lover's collection and is almost essential in any comprehensive klezmer collection. But no matter what your genre orientation, if you just love good music regardless of such narrow confines, you're bound to enjoy this album.

© 2003 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.

Track List:
1. Kozatsky 'Til You Dropsky (Trepak) - 1:43
2. Dance of the Latkes Queens {Based on Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) (Tchaikovsky) - 2:52
3. March of the Macabees [March] (Tchaikovsky) - 1:39
4. Araber Tants {Based on "Arab Dance"} (Tchaikovsky) - 2:27
5. Tants Chinese {Based on "Chinese Dance"} (Tchaikovsky) - 1:49
6. Dance of the Dreydls {Based on "Dance of the Reed Flutes) (Tchaikovsky) - 2:28
7. Waltz of the Rugalah {Based on "Waltz of the Flowers) (Tchaikovsky) - 3:28
8. Gustav's Wedding {From Mahler's First Symphony) (Mahler) - 4:23
9. Romanian Rhapsody (Enesco) - 4:40
10. Gnossienne 1 (Satie) - 2:25
11. Gnossienne 2 (Satie) - 1:46
12. Gnossienne 3 (Satie) - 2:34
13. Hungarian Goulash {Based on Brahms' Hungarian Rhapsody) (Brahms) - 3:45
14. Nekhome (Solace) (Prelude No. 4) (Chopin) - 3:22
15. Turk in America (Traditional) - 3:47
16. Russian Bulgar (Traditional) - 4:04
17. Gymnopedie 3 (Satie) - 2:32

Credits:
Glenn Dickson: clarinet
David Harris: trombone, dumbek
Michael McLaughlin: piano & accordion
Pete Fitzpatrick: banjo
Eric Rosenthal: drums
John Manning: tuba
guest
Jim Gray: tuba on tracks 15, 16

PURCHASING INFO:
Klezmer Nutcracker can be purchased:
From Hatikvah Music International (US)
From Jewish Music Distribution UK
And from other general sources.

All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.

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	`Artist: Shirim Klezmer Orchestra` `Album: Klezmer Nutcracker` `Date of` `Release: 1998` `Label: Newport Classic` `Cat. No.: Newport Classic 85640` `ASIN:` `Country: US` `Genre/s: 1) World\|Jewish` `2) Classical` `Sub-` `Genre/s: 1) Klezmer, Other` `2) Light Classical, Crossover` `Type: Studio` `Time: 49:44` `Date of` `Review: 2003/04/01` `Web site: http://www.shirim.com/` `Purchasing Info!`
	Klezmer Nutcracker - Cracked! Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's album "Klezmer Nutcracker" was originally released in 1998 on the Newport Classic label. The Klezmer Nutcracker Suite that gives this album its title consists of the first seven tracks. It is Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's manic, humerous, "klezzified" re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky. It's done with great panache, charm and wit, in a style very much their own and original. No simple klezmer-classical crossover, this. Shirim take the Tchaikovsky material and turn it upside down and inside out, changing rhythms and notes as it suits, and give it a thoroughly klezmer treatment. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy becomes "The Dance of the Latkes Queens", and you'll never listen to a straight performance of the original in quite the same way again! This suite might even have cheered up poor old Tchaik himself! It also and coincidentally makes for a great, light-hearted way of introducing kids to Tchaikovsky and classical music generally, and for that matter, to klezmer at the same time. The Klezmer Nutcracker Suite is just adorable and hugely enjoyable - what more could one possibly say? The second part of Shirim Klezmer Orchestra's "Klezmer Nutcracker" gives a similarly manic and irreverent treatment to assorted works by Mahler, Enesco, Satie, Brahms and Chopin (some in turn based on Jewish/Eastern European themes), and a couple of traditional klezmer standards are also included. The result is as charming and witty as the Klezmer Nutcracker Suite itself. "Gustav's Wedding" from Mahler's First Symphony appropriately returns Mahler to his Jewish musical roots as it were, from whence this music came in the first place. Enesco's "Romanian Rhapsody" is simply breathtaking. Satie is much improved with Shirim's versions of "Gnossienne 1" and 2 and 3, and Gymnopedie 3. "Hungarian Goulash" gives Brahms' Hungarian Rhapsody an "authentic", humourous treatment that cannot fail to delight. The outstanding arrangements on this album are complemented by equally outstanding musicianship and technical excellence. Shirim (who incidentally also have a somewhat more avantgarde incarnation, as Naftule's Dream) are an extremely accomplished band, and the humour and fun of this album are infectious. "Klezmer Nutcracker" as a whole cannot fail to delight. In it, Shirim Klezmer Orchestra have created a perennial favourite that ought to be found in any classical/light classical music lover's collection and is almost essential in any comprehensive klezmer collection. But no matter what your genre orientation, if you just love good music regardless of such narrow confines, you're bound to enjoy this album. © 2003 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.
	Track List: `1. Kozatsky 'Til You Dropsky (Trepak) - 1:43` `2. Dance of the Latkes Queens {Based on Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) (Tchaikovsky) - 2:52` `3. March of the Macabees [March] (Tchaikovsky) - 1:39` `4. Araber Tants {Based on "Arab Dance"} (Tchaikovsky) - 2:27` `5. Tants Chinese {Based on "Chinese Dance"} (Tchaikovsky) - 1:49` `6. Dance of the Dreydls {Based on "Dance of the Reed Flutes) (Tchaikovsky) - 2:28` `7. Waltz of the Rugalah {Based on "Waltz of the Flowers) (Tchaikovsky) - 3:28` `8. Gustav's Wedding {From Mahler's First Symphony) (Mahler) - 4:23` `9. Romanian Rhapsody (Enesco) - 4:40` `10. Gnossienne 1 (Satie) - 2:25` `11. Gnossienne 2 (Satie) - 1:46` `12. Gnossienne 3 (Satie) - 2:34` `13. Hungarian Goulash {Based on Brahms' Hungarian Rhapsody) (Brahms) - 3:45` `14. Nekhome (Solace) (Prelude No. 4) (Chopin) - 3:22` `15. Turk in America (Traditional) - 3:47` `16. Russian Bulgar (Traditional) - 4:04` `17. Gymnopedie 3 (Satie) - 2:32`
	Credits: `Glenn Dickson: clarinet` `David Harris: trombone, dumbek` `Michael McLaughlin: piano & accordion` `Pete Fitzpatrick: banjo` `Eric Rosenthal: drums` `John Manning: tuba` `guest` `Jim Gray: tuba on tracks 15, 16`
	PURCHASING INFO: Klezmer Nutcracker can be purchased: From Hatikvah Music International (US) From Jewish Music Distribution UK And from other general sources.
	All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.