Sound Salon: Klezmer Classics
Free
- Steven Greenman, violin
- Gretchen Yanover, cello
- Byron Schenkman, piano
Joseph Achron — Sher, Op. 42 (for violin & piano)
Lazare Saminsky — Hebrew Rhapsody
Leon Schwartz — Bar Mitzvah Nigun
Joel Engel — Mazurka, Op. 12, No. 3
Robert Schumann — Bilder aus Osten ("Pictures from the East"), Op. 66 ("IV. Nicht schnell; Chanson Orientale"; arr. Joseph Achron for violin & piano)
Leo Zeitlin — Eli Zion (for cello & piano)
Steven Greenman — Concert Kale Baveynens (for piano trio)
Joel Engel — Freilechs Dance, Op. 21
Russian Jewish violinists at the turn of the 20th Century created a new musical language combining the latest trends in classical music with traditions of the Eastern European Klezmer. Featuring violinist Steve Greenman, Gretchen Yanover, and pianist Byron Schenkman with works by Joseph Achron, Joel Engel, and others.
About Sound Salon (formerly Byron Schenkman & Friends)
Known as Byron Schenkman & Friends until recently, Sound Salon is a concert series that brings a diverse set of 21st-century perspectives to artistically excellent ensemble music, inspired by European traditions of the 17th through 19th Centuries. Byron Schenkman is Sound Salon's Artistic Director.
Sound Salon is a 501c3 non-profit supported by donors and ticket sales.
https://www.SoundSalonMusic.orgAbout Steven Greenman, violin
Internationally recognized as one of the world's leading practitioners of klezmer violin music, Steven Greenman is a concert performer, composer, and educator of klezmer, East European folk, and classical music. Steven composed his virtuoso masterwork, Klezmer Concert Suite for Solo Violin and Orchestra, in 2018, and gave its premiere performance with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as violin soloist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, the Akron, Canton and Firelands Symphonies, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra. With the Joseph Rubin Orchestra, Steven performed the music of the late violin virtuoso David Rubinoff. Steven's landmark recordings, Stempenyu's Dream and Stempenyu’s Neshome, feature his original Jewish and klezmer compositions. His recording, Khevrisa – European Klezmer Music, appears on the Smithsonian Folkways label. Steven directs the Case Western Reserve University Klezmer Music Ensemble and has led international masterclasses at KlezKamp, KlezKanada, Yiddish Summer Weimar, Internationales Klezmer Festival Fuerth, KlezFest London, Master Class de Musica Tradicional Santiago de Compostela, and Yiddish Academy Tokyo in addition to numerous universities and colleges. His thrilling collaboration with master pipa-player Gao Hong, The Braided Candle, explores a unique blending of both traditional Jewish and Chinese folk music styles.
https://stevengreenman.com/About Gretchen Yanover, cello
Cellist Gretchen Yanover creates spacious string atmospheres woven with warm melodies. She performs with her electric cello and looping pedal, in addition to her acoustic cello performance and recording work. Yanover began her musical life in Seattle public schools, falling in love with the cello's deep sound. Gretchen pursued both performance and music education at University of Washington, embracing an interwoven path of teaching and performing. Ms. Yanover guided students in music for 17 years, while at the same time growing her own solo performing career. Gretchen started playing with a loop sampler around 2001 and it changed her musical life, inspiring her to improvise and compose. Yanover's 5th album will be released March 2024.
Gretchen performs throughout the Pacific Northwest as a soloist on her electric cello, while continuing her classical music life. She has played with Northwest Sinfonietta orchestra since 1998, and is a member of Northwest Sinfonietta's DEI task force, working to make meaningful changes in the classical music culture, along with creating connections in the community. Northwest Sinfonietta has featured Gretchen as a soloist on her electric cello on several occasions.
Yanover has appeared as a soloist for the Earshot Jazz Festival, and presented at TEDx Seattle. She created music for and performed with LeVar Burton for LeVar Burton Reads live, and has had compositions commissioned by Seattle Symphony, Seattle Pacific University, and University of Oregon. Gretchen was the recipient of a Shunpike Artist residency, and was the Town Hall Seattle 2021 Fall Artist in Residence. She is the recipient of a 2023 CityArtist grant from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
Gretchen loves exploring on foot, cooking vegan dishes, reading, and social tango dancing.
https://gretchenyanover.com/