November 9, 2008

Recently [I picked up the clarinet again](http://eecue.com/log_archive/eecue-log-984-My_New_Clarinet__Selmer_CL_200.html) and have been practicing various Klezmer songs, including one of my wife's favorites: Papirosen. A sad song about a boy selling cigarettes on the streets during WW II in order to stave off hunger and avoid the fate of his sister who died from exposure. I found [this brilliant rendition on youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXxS4jLkVxY) by a duo known as the [Klezmer Gourmets](http://klezmeruk.com/). I was shocked and saddened to read in the comments that the violinist [Michael Kahan was stabbed earlier this year](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1024039/Stabbed-violinist-killed-discharged-schizophrenic-breakfast-shopping-trip.html) by a 'discharged schizophrenic' in Macnhester. This song will now be twice as sorrowful when I play it. Rest in peace Michael Kahan.