#KlezKanada25: Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions are broad introductions that place our programming within a larger context and history and are led by experts in the field
Date and time
Location
Online
Refund Policy
About this event
Tuesday-Friday, August 25-28th:
3:45-5:00 PM EDT
Come to one, or come to them all!
Tuesday:
An Introduction to the Yiddish Language with Asya Vaisman Schulman (Montreal, QC)
This session will introduce participants to the Yiddish language with a very brief history of Yiddish, a look at the alef-beys, and practice with some basic phrases. The session is open to all, and highly recommended for participants new to Yiddish language and culture, including musicians! Led by Asya Vaisman Schulman, a premier instructor of Yiddish language and Yiddish-language pedagogy, and co-author of the forthcoming Yiddish textbook for beginners, In Eynem.
Wednesday:
An Introduction to the History of Klezmer Music with Hankus Netsky (Boston, MA)
For the past forty-five years, klezmer music has experienced an unprecedented global resurgence but, while a large worldwide audience has experienced its renaissance, many of its fans and even some of its practitioners know little about its roots. This session will be a perfect chance to explore how the music we now call "klezmer" evolved in Eastern Europe and later became as a primary soundscape for Jewish celebrations in American Jewish urban centers.
Thursday:
A Window Into Jewish Arts & Culture: A Virtual Tour of the FENTSTER Gallery with Evelyn Tauben (Toronto, ON)
Join Evelyn Tauben (Curator, FENTSTER, Toronto) for an interactive, richly illustrated presentation. As a window gallery, FENTSTER is the most public Jewish art space in Canada operating 24/7 year-round, even during the global lockdown. Evelyn will share the ""FENTSTER philosophy"" towards Jewish art and an overview of past exhibitions before leading a deep dive into their latest installation, a striking stained glass sculpture by artist Robert Davidovitz. The exhibition title - What Will Remain – is from a poem by Avrom Sutzkever, whose work, along with other writings from the pre-war Yiddish literary group Yung-Vilne. Evelyn will explore in the talk, with a look at art, architecture, and Jewish history and teachings, which further form the backdrop to the exhibition. Special live performance by Yiddish singer Sarah Gordon.
Presented together with Toronto's FENTSTER, a window gallery presenting contemporary art connected to the Jewish experience.
Friday:
An Introduction to Yiddish Song with Lorin Sklamberg (Brooklyn, NY)
This session is highly recommended for all participants – musicians and non-musicians alike - who are new to Yiddish song or seeking new perspectives and inspiration. Lorin Sklamberg, founding member and lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics, Sound Archivist of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and co-curator of the Ruth Rubin Legacy website, will draw from his deep knowledge of song repertoire and practice to provide an engaging introduction to the wonderful world of Yiddish song.
IMAGE: What Will Remain by Robert Davidovitz, 2020. Currently on view at FENTSTER. Photo: Morris Lum
More information: klezkanada.org