White Nights

May 27, 2009

The secular version of Shavout takes place in Tel Aviv with a vengeance. On the night before Erev Shavuot, Tel Aviv celebrates White Nights, an all night city-wide festival with literally dozens of musical performances and other artistic gatherings. We began at Bialek Square. Several hundred people were already seated at tables when we arrived shortly after 7. At about 8 a Bedouin group performed, playing a lot of pieces where to the uninformed it’s not clear where the middle is and it’s certainly not clear why they end where they do. After a short break, a motley group of brass, drum and reed players assembled on the small platform and within minutes the audience was in their hands. Marsh Dondurma is like a 21rst century Klesmer band. You have the feeling that deep down that’s where their roots are, but they play with a verve, creativity and sense of humor that propels them into a new century and new genre. Their energy forces you to stamp your feet and clap your hands, unless you are under 60 and then you just get up and dance in any style that fits the rhythm!