The Fresno State Jewish Studies Program will host a free musical performance by the Veretski Pass trio from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in the Fresno State Library Ellipse Gallery.
Using accordion, fiddle and bass, the band’s instrumental music combines a mix of Carpathian, Jewish, Romanian, Ottoman, Moldavian, Bessarabian, Polish and other influences.
This style of klezmer music, which dates back many centuries, is often performed at Jewish weddings and other celebrations and blends emotional religious melodies with secular dance tunes.
The trio, which released their first album in 2004, has repeatedly appeared on music journalists’ top 10 lists, and is based out of Berkeley. They are named after Verecke Pass, the mountain pass through which Magyar tribes crossed into the Carpathian Basin to settle what later became the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Before the performance, a reception at 1:30 p.m. will feature bagels and a noodle and potato kugel buffet.
INFO: Dr. Jill Fields, Jewish Studies Program Coordinator, jfields@mail.fresnostate.edu.
