Happy 1st Birthday, Frida!
Click to viewHAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRIDA! It's been a year since I acquired the basset horn that is really becoming my voice. I have played it on recent klezmer quarantine videos, as well as in live performances with Zisl Slepovitch Trio, Dance Clarinets, and even Yiddish Fiddler. As some other of my instruments, this beautiful and truly versatile instrument has gotten a name. Please meet Frida: she is named after my grandmother Frida Drapkina (Slepovitch). Her father Iosif (Iosel / Joseph) was a clarinetist, the only professional musician in my family (although almost all of my family members were/are musically gifted). It was from my grandma Frida that I heard the very word clarinet for the first time, when I was 4. While my great-grandfather's name became part of my Jewish name, I want to keep my grandmother's name close to my lips and heart as I am making music on this basset horn. Here is our journey storyline so far which I shared with many truly outstanding musicians. Hope you enjoy!