2/17/09

I’ve been receiving inquiries to explain the titles of the tunes on my latest CD, Arise! New Jewish Music by Sy Kushner.

Dee Dee refers simply to the fact that the main theme is based on an octave(8 notes) leap from d to d.

A Minor Tune is written in the key of A minor.

2AFD was written for my son who plays alto sax on this recording. 2AFD stands for “To Aaron from Dad”.

Merengklez was influenced by my love of Latin music. You can hear that in the bongo and conga rhythms. However it still retains a Jewish feel, hence the name.

The Bronx Waltz: Yes I lived in the Bronx for the first 25 years of my life. This tune reflects my fond memories of and nostalgia for the Bronx. On my next CD there will be a tune called Soundview Waltz. Soundview is the section of the Bronx in which I lived for most of my youth.

Do I Hear an Echo? Do you hear an echo? Listen for it. The band echoes the alto sax during the first and last section of the tune.

Mishebelly Dance reflects my love of Mideastern music while maintaining the Jewish sound by the use of the Mishebeirach mode.

Jewrish Dance reflects my love of Irish music. The interplay between the accordion and violin is typical of the genre. While using triplets popular in Irish music, the
tune is written in a minor mode.

Ken A Hora and Bulgar is dedicated to my good friend and clarinetist on this CD, Ken Maltz.

I hope that the following response will answer some of your inquiries.

Sy Kushner