Founded in 1973 – like it was called back then – as a central culture group in the Pedagogical Highschool Potsdam, “manifest” evolved with the five members (who aren’t Jews) a regional respected interpretation of Yiddish music (or Klezmer) since the beginning of the 90th.
The repertoire of the group consists mainly of Yiddish songs, tunes and dances of the eastern European Jews. In their program “But you can’t sate tears with tears” they relate a fictive Jewish life history with the inspiration of letters, narrations and texts of the Jewish author Joseph Burg. The repertoire of the group includes also Jewish songs, stories and dances about all occasions of life. The group members are Marian Herrmann (bass guitar), Holger Kapp (guitar, mandolin, vocal), Harald Petzold (fidl [violin, viola], vocal), Marcus Pilarski (cello, vocal), Thomas Wehling (guitar, vocal, percussion) and Holger Kempa (guitar, percussion).
Klezmer Music dates back to the eastern European Judaism (ashkenazim) tradition. Still in the 15th century Klezmer was developed as a secular (non lithurgish) Jewish music that was performed by folk musicians called Klezmorims. Because of the migratory lifestyle some Rabbis just despised them and so they developed a special music “of the street” – of the “schtetl”. The main instruments were violin (the fidl), dulcimer (Tsimbl), contrabass, cello, flute (later clarinet) and percussion.
The repertoire of the group includes pieces that were played on weddings and public festivals. The fascination of this music is the connection between (musical) ecstasy and human despair. Important musical forms are, as dances, the multipart “Freylekhs” (little jaunty pieces) between major and minor, Bulgar (round dancing) or Nigun (played for the Chassidim’s) and often also the easy Jewish songs. In Germany since the 70th the Klezmer music is played more and more in the genre of “world-music”. Today in Germany exist many Klezmer-groups who play original interpretations as well as combinations with elements of Jazz, Rock and Pop. Many composers (like Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Dmitri Shostakovich) were inspired by Yiddish music.
Current line-up
- Violin/viola: Harald Petzold
- Cello: Markus Pilarski
- Bass: Marian Herrmann
- Guitar/spoons: Thomas Wehling
- Mandolin/guitar: Holger Kapp
- Percussion/guitar: Holger Kempa
Technical requirements
In closed, club-like rooms the group performs without amplification (except for one amplifier for the electric bass, which the group brings along).
For concerts and performances outdoors or in larger halls the following technical requirements apply:
- 4 vocal microphones
- 2 instrument microphones for guitar/mandolin combined
- 3 microphones in front of amplifiers for electric bass
- violin/viola and cello (or matching jack/jack sockets)
- at least 2 monitor speakers.
For every performance the group needs 3 chairs without armrests.
Bookings: Wehling.t@web.de