NICHE OF NICHES
Bob Berkman lectured on the roll of the player piano roll in Jewish music. Berkman used to work at a player piano company in Buffalo, New York. The company made piano rolls until 2009. The last Jewish piano roll rolled out in 1980. It was “The Theme from Exodus” by Ferrante and Teicher. Berkman said there are about 800 Jewish piano-roll titles out there. He has 256.
Berkman’s mother was at the lecture, in Cleveland at a temple sisterhood. His mother lives in Cleveland. Bob had a power point and had rented a grand piano. He hooked up his Pianola player piano to the grand piano. I bet Bob took a financial bath on that presentation. (I know about sisterhood budgets.) I think he did the presentation just for his mom. Bob played everything from “The Shtiler Bulgar” to “Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn.” He asked me where might he perform next. I wasn’t sure.
Niche of niches.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5KMKuD6b2M
Bob Berkman
(Bob’s website is here. Book him!)
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Yiddishe Cup plays the Medina (Ohio) International Fest 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 22). Free.
6 comments
Power point.
To Ted:
Thanks. Corrected to read “power point” [had been “point power” / (dybbuk).]
Fascinating as usual!! Had me wondering if the musicality of Berkman was in the roll itself.
Loved Berkman’s Tango piece. Hey, I’ve got to get work done.
I heard his presentation at Klezkamp a number of years ago.
Good thing Jerry Lee Lewis didn’t show up.
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