Yale Strom
// author, composer & directorYALE STROM is an author, composer, director, filmmaker, musician, photographer, and writer from San Diego, California. His book “The Last Jews Of Eastern Europe” (1986) was available from the Philosophical Library, “A Tree Still Stands: Jewish Youth In Eastern Europe Today” (1990) was available from Philomel Books, “Uncertain Roads: Searching For The Gypsies” (1993) was available from Simon & Schuster, “The Book Of Klezmer: The History, The Music, The Folklore” (2002) is available from Chicago Review Press, “A Wandering Feast: A Journey Through The Jewish Culture Of Eastern Europe” (2004) is available from Jossey-Bass Books, “The Absolutely Complete Klezmer Songbook [CD Included]” (2006) is available from Transcontinental Music Publications, and Yale Strom’s first children’s book “The Wedding That Saved A Town” (2008) is available from Kar-Ben Publishing and YaleStrom.com. His album “Cholent With Huckleberry” (1988) was available from Global Village Music, “Garden Of Yidn” (2001), and “Klezmer: Cafe Jew Zoo” (2003) are both available from Naxos World, “Bosht With Bread Brothers” (2006) is available from ARC Music Productions, “The Absolutely Complete Introduction To Klezmer Vol. 1” (2006), and “Absolutely Klezmer Vol. 2” (2008) are both available from Transcontinental Music Publications and YaleStrom.com. His films “The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozlowski: His Life And Music” (1994), and “Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years” (1996) were both available from New Yorker Films. Yale has produced extensive music, research, and work among the Jews and Gypsies of Central and Eastern Europe to create his films, original stage plays, and photography exhibitions.
Website: www.yalestrom.com
Photo: Deva Yashevsky / YaleStrom.com
Interview:
The spiritual significance of music is that music is the Esperanto of the world. When I play music on my violin it is me thinking and feeling out loud. It is my subconscious uncovered. Music is a part of what makes each and all of us human. When you wake up in the morning, especially after you have been dreaming, being in an altered state of spiritual consciousness, your heart is beating and your lungs are moving up and down. These rhythms are a primordial part of what makes us human and when we take these rhythmic patterns and add our voice to this mix, especially in time of prayer, we hear music that comes from the depths of our soul. The source of power greater than man; call her God, Allah, Adonai, Buddha, or Mother Nature. When they speak to us it is through music, and when we see them most clearly, it is when we are in a trance induced through music whether, singing, chanting, dancing, swaying, or just humming. I believe all sounds in nature are some kind of music and come from a spiritual place.
“Music is a part of what makes each and all of us human… I believe all sounds in nature are some kind of music and come from a spiritual place.”
– Yale Strom, author of “The Book Of Klezmer: The History, The Music, The Folklore”
