Jewish Storytelling with Klezmer Music
Joseph's Khasene (Joseph's Wedding) (part II)

This story continues on the previous Something from Nothing story with Joseph's wedding to Rivka. A review of the previous story plus an interactive experience with klezmer music and dance. Students to experience a traditional Jewish wedding complete with the badkhn (Jewish wedding jester/announcer). Original story by Steven Greenman. Best suitable for kindergarten through 2nd grade. 20 to 30 min.

Klezmer/Jazz Connection
Violinist Steven Greenman combines with guitarist/bassist/composer Henry Shapiro (Steel City Klezmorim, Swing Fever) and pianist Tom Roberts (Leon Redbone ensemble) to present an interactive program for students showing the connections between klezmer music and jazz. The artists will show how traditional klezmer music was adapted to American tastes and musical styles with influences from jazz and swing as Jewish professional musicians (klezmorim) immigrated to America. Students will hear tunes played in traditional klezmer style and then in their cross-over "Americanized" form. Rhythms, harmonies and melodic lines will be compared and contrasted for students to see and hear. Students will have a chance to dance traditionally to a klezmer tune and then dance to the same tune played as a swing tune. Students will also hear the connections between Jewish improvisational rubato tunes (doina, taxim) and the "blues." Lastly, students will hear the connection between Jewish mystical tunes (nigunim) and jazz "scat" singing and participate in the singing of both with their improvised nonsense syllables. Best suitable for students grades 1-8. 30 to 40 min.