Kugeltov
Kugeltov is a Wellington (New Zealand) klezmer quartet made up of Robin Perks (violin), Tui Clark (clarinet) Ross Harris (accordion) and Malcolm Struthers (bass).
The group plays with all the energy you would expect from klezmer music but also takes the genre in the direction of chamber music. Three of the members are professional orchestral players with great technique and all four are passionate about the music.
The group plays with all the energy you would expect from klezmer music but also takes the genre in the direction of chamber music. Three of the members are professional orchestral players with great technique and all four are passionate about the music.
Kugeltov plays old and new klezmer music
One of the members, Ross Harris, has written over twenty tunes for the band using elements of traditional klezmer but extending aspects of this material in new directions.
What is new?
MELODY and HARMONY:
"The characteristic sound of the klezmer band is maybe due to the tension, the dissonance between the melody line and the underlying harmony." Quote from the website - Clarinet -Klezmer
Many of the new Kugeltov pieces take the relatively unusual chord progressions of klezmer and combine these in new ways. Against these simple chords the melodies often produce delicious and unusual clashes.
SCALES:
The usual klezmer scales appear in the new pieces but are not necessarily maintained for whole pieces. They can change quickly, moving from traditional scales to Messiaen modes or other invented scales.
RHYTHM:
While keeping more or less within the framework of traditional rhythmic patterns new Kugeltov music is likely to have irregular phrase lengths and sudden changes of meter.
"The characteristic sound of the klezmer band is maybe due to the tension, the dissonance between the melody line and the underlying harmony." Quote from the website - Clarinet -Klezmer
Many of the new Kugeltov pieces take the relatively unusual chord progressions of klezmer and combine these in new ways. Against these simple chords the melodies often produce delicious and unusual clashes.
SCALES:
The usual klezmer scales appear in the new pieces but are not necessarily maintained for whole pieces. They can change quickly, moving from traditional scales to Messiaen modes or other invented scales.
RHYTHM:
While keeping more or less within the framework of traditional rhythmic patterns new Kugeltov music is likely to have irregular phrase lengths and sudden changes of meter.
Kugeltov plays Voglenish by Ross Harris (flash player required)
Kugeltov plays traditional melody Baym Zeydn Tish (flash player required)
Hire the band
Kugeltov plays at all sorts of events - parties, weddings, birthdays, pretty well anything. If you live in the Wellington New Zealand region and would like to hire us contact Tui Clark - see relevant page.
Links:
This band cooks!
