Questions

 
The Main Klezmer Modes
by Joshua Horowitz
   
start: 03 december 2006, up-date: 03 december 2006
 
Some questions which arise during a perusal of the problem of "Shtaygerology" are:
 
1) Can the temporal and geographic origins of a particular piece be ascertained through its modal mechanics?
 
2) Are there regional differences between the modes and their mechanisms (i.e. a klezmer nussach?)
 
3) What is the relationship of Klezmer modes to Cantorial (Chazzanut) modes? To those of neighboring or host peoples?
 
4) What are the similarities and differences to Greek, Turkish and Arabic Makamat or Persian Dastgah?
 
5) What are the limiting parameters of improvisation in modal Klezmer music?
 

6) Are there differences between the modal mechanics of vocal music (i.e., Niggunim) and instrumental music?