Fran And Flora: Transylvanian Rhapsodies
VICTORIA KINGHAM
They have just returned from a trip to Transylvania, but there’s nothing remotely Gothic about Fran and Flora, the duo who played at Crown House on 27 February. They are fascinated by the music of Eastern Europe: specifically Klezmer, that originated in the many Jewish communities of Transylvania lost or destroyed in World War II. But if you have the impression that Klezmer is a slightly limited form, only associated with dancing rabbis at Jewish weddings in upper Manhattan, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Top: Cellist Francesca Ter-Berg, below: Violinist Flora Curzon
There’s something of a general revival and ‘rediscovery’ of the soulful and distinctive sound of a string orchestra (traditionally string because in sixteenth-century Europe Jews were legally allowed only to play ‘soft’ instruments, and not brass instruments or drums). Though it is indeed strongly linked to the Jewish wedding ceremony, the musical style incorporates both Jewish and non-Jewish melodies, secular and synagogue music. The vocal style is heavily ornamented, in the style of cantors in a synagogue.
LOST AND FOUND AGAIN
The language of the songs is Yiddish. Before World War II that language was spoken across the many Jewish communities living and working in Eastern Europe. It is derived mainly from middle German, but with Hebrew, Slavic, and Romance additions, and written in Hebrew script. In Israel it became known as the language of the ghetto, and its use was discouraged; nevertheless there is now a school of Yiddish in the university at Tel Aviv, with a number of distinguished centres for its study. And Universities offer Yiddish Studies as part of Slavic or Oriental Language departments (despite its European origins). UNESCO still classifies it as an ‘endangered’ language, though there has been an increase in the number of speakers. Fran and Flora mentioned the orthodox Haredi Jewish community in Stoke Newington who have Yiddish as their mother tongue, and if you’ve ever travelled on the 253 bus between Hackney and Stamford Hill, you’ll have heard it spoken a great deal.
So whether the Klezmer revival has spurred the Yiddish revival, or vice-versa, singers like Fran and Flora must be leaders in its promotion. While they use traditional language and instruments (Flora on violin, Fran on cello) they make full use of modern instrumentation (reverb, synth, looping) and plenty of instrumental and vocal amplification.
FAULTLESS
It’s all to the good. What they present is unexpected, faultless, interesting, varied, and unclassifiable. Their arrangements are as varied as their choice of song: they use the cello as much as the violin for the melodic lead and both instruments as rhythm during the numbers. No written music stands between them and the audience, and they have a musical relationship of some fifteen years. Francesca’s singing is honed and improved through careful study but seems completely natural. Her voice is straight, pure, high – she decorates and augments the melodies in a wonderfully authentic way. Flora’s voice is lower, sweet – they both sing in Yiddish as though they were born to it, which is probably just one result of their years of research. Some of the numbers are their own originals, but in the traditional style – fantastic stuff. Most of the numbers they presented this evening can be found on their album, Precious Collection, and the performance they gave was quite as polished as on the album.
Small, intimate, and relaxed, Crown House in St Leonards is the ideal venue for the concerts planned by Holly Harman in her Sounds St Leonards series. White Rock Studio, only recently restored as an intimate venue, is another. Tonight’s audience was lively, responsive, and enthusiastic. Classically trained on the violin, but with a consuming interest in world folk sounds, Holly is bringing to Hastings and St Leonards some extremely eclectic, extremely beautiful musical experiences. These will include a performance by her own ensemble which will coincide with the release of her first album. Another source of the high-quality music that goes towards making Hastings and St Leonards a truly exciting locality.
‘The music of Fran and Flora sits in two camps, both steeped in tradition, with material drawn directly from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and years of study with traditional music masters, whilst simultaneously garnering a contemporary and avant-garde aesthetic, speaking to the more classical and experimental listener.’ (sleeve notes, Precious Collection on Piccadilly Records More details: hiddennotes.co.uk/fran-flora Sounds St Leonards: sounds-stleonards.co.uk
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply