Who said it was Jewish anyway?

The Red Herrings of Jewish Music.

The question as to what makes Jewish music Jewish

has concerned musicians since the modern age. 

In this fascinating presentation, our special guest, Josh Horowitz, director of the Budowitz Klezmer Ensemble and co-founder of the Veretski Pass Klezmer Trio, will perform, show and discuss the processes leading to our definition of Jewish music and how it sometimes falls prey to the idea of cultural ownership. 

He will examine satires, parodies and the use of music as a symbol of the diaspora. Josh will also show the underlying musical archetypes that make up our musical world and will show the history of the original Jewish "Ma Yofus" stereotype, which is the musical equivalent of the wandering Jew. 

Performing on tsimbl (Yiddish dulcimer), 19th-century button accordion, and piano, Josh has recorded with numerous artists, including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Itzhak Perlman. He has received more than forty international awards for his work, including the Prize of Honor for orchestral composition, presented by the Austrian government. His books include The Ultimate Klezmer and The Sephardic Songbook. Josh is currently adjunct professor at Sonoma State.

Join our retirees group for a monthly (second Tuesday) lecture, discussion, performance, or film. 

For the program and a light lunch, there is a nominal fee of $5 per person.

Please join us!