Current bands and theatre
- Melbourne Playback Theatre , Bohemian Nights, Bowlines, Klezmeritis, Saray Iluminado
OLD BIO..please ask for update by email
Ernie Gruner has a long history in Australia's acoustic, theatre and world music scenes. Current bands range from the jazz and cabaret comedy of Jugularity, to the Jewish and Middle-Eastern sounds of Klezmeritis and Yalla!, to improvising music in Melbourne Playback Theatre Company. He promotes Klezmer (Eastern European Jewish) music with his workshops and performances around Australia and beyond.
Other bands have included Greek and Sephardic influences (Melisma and Soleluna) and the Klezmer Trio, while Bohemian Nights and Flirting Mazurkas include jazz and latin as well as European and Eastern influences.
He has been a member of Dya Singh band (Sikh), Kalinka (European), Zingara (world/gypsy), Howlin’ Wind Band (world/rock) and accompanied Zulya Kamalova, Kavisha Mazzella, Bronwyn Calcutt, Gypsy Fire - Matthew Fagan, Texicali Rose (mariachi) Colin Reid, Brahim Benim (Moroccan), Afandi Siyo (Oromo/East African). As a classical musician Ernie led the Monash String Quartet for over ten years and was an orchestral violinist.
His theatre involvement and collaborations have included Playback Theatre, Cafe Scheherezade, Progress and Melancholy, Our Chalk Circle, Dante, Russian Soup , Emma Celebrazione, Blue Absinthe and cabaret with Jugularity and more.
Ernie is active as a violin teacher or more often as a fiddle teacher, introducing classical violinists to folk and improvised music styles. As a recording musician he has over 70 credits. He won the Port Fairy Tune Writing award with his wife Cathy Dowden for “Jered’s Jive” and plans to compose more - one day.
In 2010, Ernie was profiled in Seth Jordan’s book “World Music: Global Sounds in Australia”, published by UNSW Press. The book explores the story of Australian-based performers and other individuals who have significantly contributed to the development of Australia’s world music scene.
Ernie Gruner and Klezmer Overseas Klezmer Trip summaries
_____________________ Klezmer Workshops (selected)
2016 - Australian String Teacher's Association
2015 Cygnet Folk Festival - Klezmer & Nigun workshops
2014
KLEZMER WORKSHOPS in NEW ZEALAND
Wellington Folk Festival
Dunedin Fiddle Club
KLEZMER & JEWISH wordless singing WORKSHOPS : ERNIE GRUNER / Western Australia
April 29th, Tuesday @ 6.30pm Singing, 8pm Klezmer . See www.trybooking.com/EQVW for details & bookings
Venue : MOSARTS, 16 Lochee St, Mosman Park http://www.mosarts.com.au/
2013 Sunday December 8th
Klezmer workshop by Knakl , 1 - 4pm Fairfield.
More information and Bookings Essential via http://www.trybooking.com/68206
Tuesday March 26th Workshop with London Klezmer Quartet & Ernie Gruner for instrumentalists and dancers, 7-9.45pm, in Coburg , bookings via trybooking site ..... |
www.trybooking.com/CJDJ |
2012 September 24th Monday 7.30 - 9.30pm Northcote Uniting Church / Darebin Music Feast
for Violins and C instruments only. (unless my arm is bent) $20 full / $15 conc
Please email to register with instrument, experience, standard, contact details
or call 0418549631 for more info.
2012 Community Music Victoria weekend Bendigo camp. Klezmer workshop YOUTUBE VIDEO (Vodka Nigun)
2012 April 17th Tuesday Klezmer & Nigun workshops at KULCHA, Fremantle W.A., Evening. email for details
Workshop information at Kulcha website
2012 April 2nd Monday London Klezmer Quartet workshops in Northcote
Registration Form sorry no more places - SOLD OUT
with Workshop Information & London Klezmer Quartet band & tour information
2010 November 6th/7th ZINGARO GYPSY/KLEZMER FESTIVAL Malmsbury
2010 Monday September 6 : Northcote Uniting Church Hall for Darebin Music Feast
More information and Registration
2010 Sunday August 22nd, BRISBANE, 2-4pm BEMAC
2009 September Mondays 7th & 14th, evenings,
Northcote Uniting Church Hall for Darebin Music Feast , click here for
More information and Registration due August 31st preferably or email me.
2 workshops each night.
1st on nigunnim, for singers and less experienced musoes, or those who want more...
2nd for more experienced musicians....
2009 Tuesday May 12th evening, , Northcote
This night will be different to usual format. Why will this night be different to all other nights ?
I'll just teach tunes from my time at KlezKanada 08, and maybe tell a few yarns.
Michael Alpert June 2008 Workshops
June 12th 1st tune audio w tuba tune 1st tune audio w tuba bass : 2' ish files
1st tune sheet - Belf 11 Nokh Havdole
Sheet music via http://belfology.com/ Audio via Canon IXUS 80IS camera with sound recorder ----thankyou Neil Barr for spotting large files and sending compressed versions ! ouch
June 12th 2nd tune audio 6' wav file with lots of repeats
Lecture/Demonstrations Click here for a list of where to find more Klezmer information
Previous Workshops and Lectures
Ernie Gruner is leader of Klezmeritis which plays for Jewish community weddings, barmitzvahs as well as concerts and festivals. Their CD was well reviewed around the world.
In 2008, Ernie travelled to KlezKanada, Alicia Svigals and Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto.
In 1998, Ernie returned from Klezmer studies in New York and Eastern Europe and maintains contact with overseas klezmer musicians. His studies included lessons from Alicia Svigals of the Klezmatics and participating in the Cracow Jewish Cultural Festival and the San Francisco KlezKamp.
In 1991, Ernie attended workshops by visiting New York klezmer musician and researcher Michael Alpert, and in 2008 organised 2 instrumental klezmer workshops for Michael .
Ernie is a member of Australia's longest running Klezmer band, The Klezmer Trio . He has played klezmer in bands Zingara and Klezmania. He formed Kalinka which performed klezmer and gypsy music at Melbourne and Australian festivals and. He worked with accordionist Leo Rosner for a live concert recording. Bohemian Nights duo includes klezmer repertoire, live and on CD.
He arranged/tutored klezmer for the 20 piece Monash University World Music ensemble at BMW Edge, and was music director for Kosher Culture's cabaret "Exile and Ecstasy" during Jewish Museum of Australia's festival. He has led a klezmer orchestra (see pics) on stage and roving for the Kingfisher Festival at CERES several years in a row.
Klezmer Workshops - Ernie leads regular public workshops, and is available for schools and private lessons.
Previously monthly at Northcote Uniting Church, CERES, Rechabite Hall, Jewish Museum etc
See Klezmer workshop participants at CERES Kingfisher Festival or pic below.
Description
Come and learn about Klezmer (Jewish folk music) from fiddler Ernie Gruner, while learning to play tunes on whatever instrument you bring along. Ernie plays regularly in Melbourne for weddings, barmitvahs and other functions where Klezmer music is popular.
He has studied in Eastern Europe (where Klezmer originated) and New York (where it is most popular) and has recorded a CD with his band Klezmeritis.
Content
- Teach tunes to participants by ear, and sheet music if necessary.
- Aim to have participants playing tunes together by end of sessions.
- Depending on event/festival incorporate participants playing as part of a concert or parade.
- Introduce participants to the style of Klezmer music - modes, ornaments, rhythms, arranging.
- Discuss some history, geography and background to the tunes and contemporary functions.
- Mention Klezmer trends around the world. Mention sources of recorded and written material.
- Aim to inspire participants to learn more tunes and style, and keep the music alive.
Turramurra Folk Music Camp 2005 - Photo by Adam Burke
Description
Jewish Gypsy Music or Jewish Jazz?
What is Klezmer Music? What makes it different to other styles of music? Where does it come from and where is it going? Come and hear violinist Ernie Gruner discussing and playing live and (optional) taped samples. Lecture is based on what Ernie found out in New York and Eastern Europe recently and other research.
Content
- Discuss history, geography and social background to the music.Discuss what differentiates klezper music - forms, modes, ornaments, rhythms, arranging.Perform examples of above on violin to illustrate lecture. Play tape-recorded samples if possible.
- Mention Klezmer trends and activity around the world.
• Australian String Teacher's Association • Monash University Conservatorium
- Jewish Museum of Australia Boite Daylesford Singer's Festival, Boite Winter Festival Kadimah, Kosher Culture - Jewish Cultural OrganisationsAustralian National Folk FestivalsNew Zealand (Wellingon Jewish community & Wellington & Whare Flat Folk fests)Woodford & Maleny Folk FestivalsCygnet and Victor Harbor Folk FestivalsPort Fairy Folk FestivalsWA : Kulcha, Fairbridge Festivals, West Australian Folk Arts Festival, Carmel School Turramurra Folk Music Camps , Rose's Gap Music CampFootscray Fiddle FrenzySuzuki Conference, Trinity College, Woodleigh School, Scotch College, PLC, Luther College, Yarra Valley Grammar Hawthorn and Kew FestivalsDeniliquin Music Camp ( South West Regional Conservatorium)
- Monthly Public workshops midyear currently CERES, prev.Rechabite Hall, other venues
Kingfisher Festival at CERES after walking 2007 KINGFISHER FESTIVAL MUSIC(Email me for rehearsals info. if you'd like to play )
Kingfisher Finale Song C Mazeltov & Leybedik in C Fiselekh C
Kingfisher Finale Song Bb Fiselekh Bb
Kingfisher Finale Song Eb Fiselekh Eb 
Kingfisher 2007 - more pics atKlezmer orchestra