cl, 1895-1989 UA
Folk and World
Possibly the most famous 20th century klezmer musician was Dave Tarras, born Dovid Tarraschuk in 1897 in the Ukrainian shtetl Ternovka in Podolia. Already a professional musician at the age of 9, the descendant of at least two generations of Hasidic klezmorim played flute, mandolin, guitar and violin. He began playing clarinet at age 14. In 1915, he was conscripted into the Tsar's army, but his talents as a musician kept him out of the trenches. Fleeing the pogroms in Ukraine, Tarras arrived in New York in 1921, where he worked in a garment factory for a time. Within a few years, he had become the new "King of Klezmer", usurping with his greater sophistication the position of Naftule Brandwein. During his career he made literally hundreds of 78 RPM recordings and was one of the only traditional Yiddish musicians to make the transition to the post-war recording industry. Dave Tarras led his own ensembles at Jewish weddings and other festivities in the New York area and he was the favorite accompanist for Yiddish Theater stars like Aaron Lebedeff and Molly Picon. He died in 1989 in New York.
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Music For The Traditional Jewish Wedding | Dave Tarras with Sam Beckerman and Irving Graetz | 2007 | Album |
Yiddish-American Klezmer Music 1925-1956 | Dave Tarras | 1992 | Compil. |
Master Of Klezmer Music Volume One - 1929-1949 | Dave Tarras | 1989 | Album |
Freilachs For Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs And Other Celebrations Vol. 3 | Murray Lehrer & Ensemble, Dave Tarras | 1977 | Album |
Jewish Melodies | Dave Tarras, Abraham Ellstein | Album | |
Freilach in Hi-Fi Jewish Wedding Dances Vol 2 | Murray Lehrer & Ensemble With Dave Tarras | Album | |
Klezmer Music | Abe Ellstein Orchestra With Dave Tarras | Album | |
Freilach In Hi-Fi: Jewish Wedding Dances, Vol. 3 | Murray Lehrer & Ensemble With Dave Tarras | Album | |
Frailach Music | Abe Ellstein Orchestra With Dave Tarras | Album |
Dave Tarras And The Musiker Brothers Jazz, Folk and World |
Dave Tarras Orchestra Folk |
Dave Tarras Trio |