Joel Rubin Jewish Music Ensemble
Beregovskiīs Khasene
From this archive Rubin selected the finest wedding tunes. In 1927, when Beregovski began to collect, there were no more active klezmer groups in the Ukraine, so he just was able to collect the melodies, and he couldnīt document ensemble playing. So Rubin had to re-arrange the tunes, based on his knowledge of klezmer style of that period. He is accompanied by top musicians: Italian Claudio Jacomucci, being familiar not only with Jewish music, but also with the traditional Tango tunes of Astor Piazollas, and Hungarians Kálmán Balogh, László Major, Ferenc Kovács and Csaba Novak, all experienced in traditional Roma music. And they contribute their experiences to these lovely wedding tunes, and itīs not only the musiciansī virtuosity inspiring me, but also the immense joy of playing and an intensity, leading to some truely meditative moments.
To make things complete, we find an extensive booklet, giving not only informations on historical backgrounds and the musicians of that period, but also deep insights into Ukrainian-Jewish wedding rites. We benefit by Rubin being not only an extraordinary musician, but also a just as good historian and theorist of Jewish culture.
Beregovskiīs Khasene by the Joel Rubin Jewish Music Ensemble is a "back to the future": It marks the birth of a unique and distinctly Jewish voice within contemporary music. (Rita Ottens)
Beregovskiīs Khasene - Joel Rubin Jewish Music Ensemble