News and Notables

Performance, Teaching, The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band

The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band Performs At Alabama School Of Fine Arts

Alan Goldspiel

March 11, 2019

Photo Mar 11, 5 42 49 PM

The Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham (known as the Magic City) invited The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band to take part in their Faculty Recital on Monday, March 11th in their Hess-Abroms Recital Hall.

The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band consists of Alan Goldspiel (guitar), Robert Janssen (clarinet and saxophone), Ron Alexander (bass), and Michael Glaser (drums).

Alan Goldspiel - guitarRobert Janssen - clarinet and saxophoneRon Alexander - bassMichael Glaser - Drums

At the beginning of the performance, Goldspiel explained with humor the origins of the band’s name as well as a bit about Klezmer to the audience of students and parents with the following:

“We are the Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band. I may have to explain a few of those words to you. Klezmer is music of the Yiddish-speaking eastern European Jews and Shtetl means ‘Village’. So Magic Stetl…Magic City…it’s not so clever but you understand. We’re going to play for you some music that has been curated by Dr. Janssen here. Curiously enough they feature him quite heavily. Three of them are bulgars, which are Romanian dances, then a nign, or melodious tune and a Dobranotsh, which means ‘Good night’. Klezmer was functional music, for weddings in particular, which would often last for days. And finally, when it was time for everyone to go, they would play a tune called ‘Good Night’. That’s our second-to-last one but you’ll see why.”

The Klezmer quartet opened the evening’s festivities with a lively five-song set consisting of Der Heyser Bulgar, Stoliner-Karliner Nign, Boogich Bulgar, Dobranotsh, and Besarabisher Bulgar (Watch the performance of this one below).

The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band’s performance was rewarded with loud applause from the attendees of the recital.

The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band was formed by Alan Goldspiel in 2010 to celebrate the opening of the art exhibit Darkness Into Light sponsored by the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and has varying members depending on how large or small a band is required. The band has performed throughout central Alabama and is available for events both public and private.

For more information about The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band click here or contact us here.

BMI, Composition, NACUSA, National Association of Composers, USA, Performance

NACUSA Returns To University Of Montevallo

Alan Goldspiel
NACUSA at UM 3-10-19 Alan solo
Goldspiel performing Five Preludes at LeBaron Hall, University of Montevallo

On March 10, 2019 at 2 p.m., the University of Montevallo’s Department of Music hosted an afternoon concert by the National Association of Composers, USA in the LeBaron Recital Hall.

Dr. Alan Goldspiel, Chair of the Department of Music at the University of Montevallo, performed three times during the concert.

The program opened with Dr. Alan Goldspiel and Joe L. Alexander performing Alexander’s Dialog #6 for guitar and tuba.

Their performance was immediately followed by several electronic playback pieces by David R. Peoples (Calming Trouble and Vid-Game Fantasies: Space Dock) as well as Animal Antics I, Animal Antics II, and Animal Antics III by Lori Ardovino.

Next, Joe L. Alexander returned to the stage to perform his solo tuba piece entitled Pop Music Suite, which was then followed by a brief electronic playback piece called Fake Brass by young composer, Dallin Peoples.

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Goldspiel and Alexander performing Duck, Duck, Soup

Next, Goldspiel returned to the stage for the second time to perform three movements of his solo guitar composition entitled Five Preludes. The movements presented were Prelude No. 4, Prelude No. 3, and Prelude No. 2. These preludes were inspired by and written in homage to Heitor Villa-Lobos and his music.

Another electronic playback composition by David R. Peoples called Vid-Game Fantasies: Bullet Hell was presented as well as a piece composed and performed by Ken Davies called Parable of Differences for trombone and fixed media.

Finishing out the afternoon’s recital, Goldspiel returned to the stage with Joe L. Alexander to perform the four movements (Monkey Business, Night at the Opera, The Cocoanuts, and Animal Cracker) of Goldspiel’s 2018 piece Duck, Duck, Soup for guitar and tuba inspired by the Marx Brothers’ films.

CMS - College Music Society, Composition, Performance, Teaching

College Music Society Composers’ Concert – Orlando, Florida

Alan Goldspiel

February 28 – March 1, 2019

Alan solo performance
Goldspiel performing Five Preludes, CMS Conference at UCF

Nothing beats winter weather better than a trip to sunny Florida and the College Music Society’s 40th Annual Chapter Conference provided Dr. Alan Goldspiel and Joe L. Alexander the opportunity to not only perform a few of their compositions but also a chance to feel the sun again.

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Composition, Performance

New Music At The W Program Includes Two Original Pieces By Dr. Alan Goldspiel

Alan Goldspiel

February 26, 2019

On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the music department at Mississippi University for Women (known by many as The W) invited Classical Guitarist/Composer, Dr. Alan Goldspiel to perform several of his original pieces at their New Music At The W series. The series focuses on music of the 20th and 21st Century.

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Goldspiel (left) with Alexander (right) performing Duck, Duck, Soup

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Composition, Performance

The LeBaron Trio Brings Sometimes Y To Shelton State Community College

Alan Goldspiel

January 22, 2019

The LeBaron Trio headed to Shelton State Community College for a Terrific Tuesday afternoon performance of several pieces including Dr. Alan Goldspiel’s composition Sometimes Y.

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Alan Goldspiel with The LeBaron Trio at Shelton State Community College

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Awards and Recognition, Composition, Recordings

Soldier of Mine chosen for upcoming Ablaze Records CD

Alan Goldspiel

downloadDecember brought exciting news to classical guitarist/composer, Alan Goldspiel, when he was notified by Ablaze Records that his piece, Soldier of Mine, was selected to be on the label’s New Choral Voices Vol. 4 CD.

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Performance

Classical Guitarist, Alan Goldspiel Returns To American Village Independence Day Celebrations

Alan Goldspiel

4th July, 2018

Classical guitarist, Alan Goldspiel, was invited to perform at The American Village in Montevallo for the third year in a row. The performances were part of American Villages annual Independence Day celebrations and required Goldspiel to return to his role as an 18th Century Spanish guitarist.

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Goldspiel in character as an 18th Century Spanish Guitarist

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