News Release
October 1999
The
Moravian College Music Institute presents Shashmaqam, Bukharan Jewish
Music and Dance, on Sunday, October 17, at 4:00 p.m., in Peter Hall.
Central Asian Bukharan Jews have brought an exotic and
highly compelling musical tradition to America. Shashmaqam has become
the premier ensemble of this colorful repertoire, whose instruments
include the tar, tanbur, doire clarinet, davvul and accordion.
Shashmaqam performances frequently draw this response;
"Well these are Jews, but their music doesn’t sound Jewish".
Indeed, compared to the celebrated music of Eastern European Jewish
culture (e.g., Klezmer Music), this music seems to emanate from its
Asian legacy. But the same cultural logic that links Eastern European
Jews to the musical world of their Slavic and German neighbors, has
connected Bukharan Jews to the cultural identity of the Sunni Muslims
of Iranian and Turkic descent.
Peter Hall is located at Moravian College's Church Street
Campus at Church and Main streets in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. General
admission is $8, Senior Citizens and students pay $5. For more concert
information, call (610) 861-1650.
