Archival
John Zorn :  Filmworks XX: Sholem Aleichem
Cat. # 7369
Released Sep 2008
cd time - 44:32
US Price $16.00
 
This twentieth volume of John Zorn’s exciting FilmWorks series features the fabulous accordionist Rob Burger and harpist Carol Emanuel accompanied by the world acclaimed Masada String Trio performing music for a documentary on the 19th century Jewish writer Sholem Aleichem. Known primarily for the Tevye stories that inspired Fiddler on the Roof, Aleichem wrote tales in Russian, Hebrew and Yiddish that have a dark subtext reminiscent of Kafka and Poe. Avoiding overt klezmer references, Zorn’s score both breaks with and draws upon tradition, dramatizing the writer’s life and work with lyricism, orchestral color and a keen sense of irony and black humor.
 
 
Personnel:
Rob Burger: Accordion
Greg Cohen: Bass
Carol Emanuel: Harp
Mark Feldman: Violin
Erik Friedlander: Cello