It was on to the Gordon Cockburn Gallery in Maybole for the next stage in our Klezmatize ceilidh tour, where one of the people who arrived for the Being Jewish in Scotland discussion was a primary school teacher specialising in religious studies, who wanted to find out more about Jewish culture, and also about resources available for teachers – something that SCoJeC is very interested in supporting.
Before Klezmatize duo John and Emma told us how they had come to play Klezmer music, gallery owner Gordon Cockburn showed us his series of Auschwitz paintings.
After the buffet and chat, the concert began in the landing gallery. Even though space was limited, some people couldn’t resist getting up to dance, and everyone listened intently to the mix of new and traditional klezmer music, played alongside some traditional Scottish tunes.
"The performers drove the dances in a perfect blend of rhythm and swaying melody" said one participant, "and the clarinet's human voice spoke of a culture both ancient and live."
