One hundred twenty-six strings used to be the standard setting for a klezmer band: one cimbalom, two fiddles, and one double bass. These days this setting is rarely found, especially within an all-female setting. Di Fidl-Kapelye from Amsterdam are the exception.
The four string wizards have various musical backgrounds: classical music, pop and theatre to name but a few. Over the years they visited many jewish music festivals and klezkamps (Weimar, NYC Workmens Circle, Hackesches Hof Theater Berlin, International Jewish Festival Amsterdam) and they worked with people like Alan Bern, Michael Alpert and Frank London from the Klezmatics.
Trumpets for strings
Initially the group performed mainly traditional klezmer music and they recorded their self-produced album Live in Amsterdam. But their many contacts inspired them to broaden their horizons. Thus they came up with the idea to ask trumpet players to compose new music for a klezmer string band. The new tunes, composed by Frank London (Klezmatics), Gijs Levelt (Amsterdam Klezmer Band), Job Chajes (Amsterdam Klezmer Band), Susan Watts (Mikveh) and Eve Monzingo (Chicago Klezmer Ensemble) were connected to older tunes in the same vein.
'Di Fidl-Kapelye are an ensemble that is fresh and creative, yet thoroughly rooted in the best of the klezmer tradition.’ (Deborah Strauss)
‘They are clearly hewing their own sound from these sources. And it works, oh does it work... If you have a chance to catch these folks live (you lucky Europeans), you should.’ (Ronan Tsimbler/Roger Reid)
'I love listening to Di Fidl Kapelye! The lyricism and vitality of the Yiddish string kapelye is alive and well again, not to mention some pretty fearsome estrogen-driven musicianship!' (Alan Bern)