Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Jewish music, including klezmer and other traditions.
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The Schmooze Tommy Ramone, Jewish Punk Icon, Dies at 65
Getty Images As Thomas Erdelyi, he was the Budapest-born son of Holocaust survivors who settled in Forest Hills, Queens. But as Tommy Ramone, he became the leather-jacketed, rhythm-slashing backbone of The Ramones, arguably one of the most influential bands of the late 20th century. Ramone, the last surviving original member of the band, died July…
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Music The Secret Jewish History of Prince
Prince died at the age of 57 on April 21, 2016. In honor of what would have been his 60th birthday, we’re re-reading this very Jewish appreciation. In 1993, at the height of his fame, after selling millions of albums, collecting a closetful of Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy awards, and establishing himself as one…
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The Schmooze Eric Clapton Headlines Auschwitz Music Festival
Eric Clapton headlined the fifth annual Life Festival in Oswiecim, Poland late this month. Yes, you read that right. Eric Clapton just played Auschwitz. Well, kind of. The Oswiecim Life Festival started in 2010, and was created by Darek Maciborek, a radio DJ, who wanted to change the negative associations brought up by his hometown….
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Culture Hey Baby, It’s the 4th Of Jew-ly!
When it comes to popular patriotic American songs written by Jews, “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin certainly stands at the top of the list; it isn’t, on the other hand, particularly festive. If you want to soundtrack your Fourth of July cookout with tunes by Jewish artists that are appropriately star-spangled, and haven’t already…
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Breaking News Rabbi-Produced Ugandan CD Wins Music Award
“Delicious Peace,” a CD of original Ugandan songs produced by the longtime Hillel director at Tufts University, won best world traditional album at the Independent Music Awards. The CD produced by Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, an ethnomusicologist and a research professor of music at the Boston-area school, features songs about coffee and religious unity. The 13th…
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The Schmooze A Mandolin Orchestra’s Labor Roots
Photo courtesy New York Mandolin orchestra On June 1 the New York Mandolin Orchestra will celebrate its 90th anniversary at a concert in Manhattan. The repertoire ranges from a Vivaldi concerto to St. Louis Blues. Founded in 1924 by a Russian Jew named Samuel Firstman, the orchestra was initially affiliated with the Jewish communist newspaper…
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The Schmooze The Jew Who Fell in Love With Wagner
(Haaretz) — The music of German composer Richard Wagner was never played in his parents’ home: Too many bad associations with Hitler and the Nazis, explains filmmaker Hilan Warshaw. So it wasn’t until he began playing violin in a New York City youth orchestra that Warshaw was first introduced to the work of the notoriously…
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The Schmooze Jerusalem Chamber Festival Fills Gap in Berlin
Photo: Monika Rittershaus This past weekend saw the third installment of the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival at the Berlin Jewish Museum. The brainchild of Russian pianist Elena Bashkirova, the festival comprised over 40 musical pieces spread over six very full concert programs, featuring an enviable array of international musical talent, including many Israeli performers….
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Culture Why saying ‘L’shana Tova’ on Rosh Hashanah may not be the correct phrase
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Culture A Jewish prophet of the 1980s would be horrified to see that we didn’t heed his warnings
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Opinion This is the most disorienting Rosh Hashanah in memory
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Fast Forward Meet Lev Kreitman, who brought down Tel Aviv shooter and survived Nova music festival on Oct. 7
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Fast Forward The pope declared a fast on Oct. 7 — but Catholics can still eat
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