Klezmer discovered

I woke up to a cold dry day with early cloud dispersing, to give us a day of sunshine at 3C. I spent all the morning after breakfast working on Sway. It's occupying a lot of my time at the moment to produce the extra edition that covers the whole of December. I hope it will be worth the effort to digital consumers. It was a pleasure to receive from Andrew, one of St John's lay leaders, a poster advertising an Advent study course to be conducted as a Zoom discussion group. A marvellous initiative, as we await the coming of a new Ministry Area Leader. The go-ahead has now been given officially to deliver a message from the Bishop to all the congregations of the Ministry Area this Sunday.

Clare bought a salmon yesterday, had it filleted and made the remnants of the bones into a soup that could be stewed with vegetables and butter beans, to make a subtly flavoured dish for lunch. After eating, I set about preparing texts for the first Advent Thursday Morning Prayer the week after next. Then Clare went out shopping so I recorded the Office and Reflection while I had the house to myself, and found images for video slideshow making, ready to finish the job when I have a spare moment. I need to get as much material prepared well in advance, as I can since there are always unexpected distractions in this busy season of the year.

I worked on this until it was time for an early supper. We had tickets for a concert at the Royal Welsh College by Kroke, an unusual trio of virtuoso Polish musicians who have worked together for 21 years, playing a classic combination of instruments used in Jewish Klezmer instrumental music: viola, double bass and accordion. 'Kroke' is Yiddish for Cracow, the name of their home town. Their music initially sounds like traditional klezmer, associated mainly with Eastern European Sephardi Judaism, which had its ancient origins in Andalusia, where its music evolved, influenced by North African culture. After the  fifteenth century reconquest of Spain Muslims and Jews were driven out of Spain. By various migration routes Sephardi Judaism found its way into various parts of Europe and Asia. Influences on melody, rhythms and harmony from all around the southern Mediterranean and Western Asia can be detected. It's a tribute to the international concert touring of this group over the years and their dialogue with indigenous musicians.

It starts from there, but draws inspiration from the music of India, Greece, North Africa and Andalusia, breathing vital energy, making remarkably creative live use of digital technology: echo, reverb, loop pedal, beat boxing, and a device that makes a viola's lower notes sound like a 'cello. Careful amplification brings out wonderful living breathing sounds and rhythms from the accordion too. Both viola and accordion were also used as drums duetting with the bass. The viola player also played tin whistle and sang in a very high full throated voice, reminiscent of Indian and Flamenco vocalists. 

All in all this music imparted a profoundly emotional experience, full of yearning, wonder and delight. We came home much moved by listening to live music, new to us both, brimming with spiritual vitality and hope for humanity. "The world will be saved by beauty." wrote Russian novelist Dostoyevsky back in 1867. I believe that only becomes possible once humanity tires of ugliness and cruelty and all things that divide us.

I finished the day with half hour walking in the darkness of the park, with the temperature below zero. I needed to stretch my legs and immerse myself in darkness, after going through the city centre in an environment invaded by bright headlights and flashing  multi-coloured Christmas illuminations.