A Brief History of Klezmer Music. By Carl Dimow The term klezmer originally came from two Hebrew words referring to musical instruments. Over time it came to signify the musicians themselves, and in current usage it also refers to the musical genre - secular Jewish music - which dates back at least as far as the 16th century. The early klezmorim (plural) played primarily for Jewish weddings though they were also hired for other Jewish and non-Jewish events.
Jews lived under a variety of ever changing legal restrictions in Europe which effected when and where the klezmorim could work. As the Jewish people moved throughout Central and Eastern Europe, the music was influenced by local cultures. There are strong Middle Eastern roots which can also be heard in Jewish litugical music. Abraham Goldfaden (1840 - 1908) founded the first Yiddish theatre in Romania in the 1870’s. It was also around this period that the clarinet became the primary lead instrument in klezmer. This material drawn from: Phillips, Stacy. The History of Klezmer Music | The New Klezmer Quintet. Klezmer music originated in the ‘shtetl’ (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as ‘klezmorim’, performed at joyful events (‘simkhes’), particularly weddings, since the early middle age till the nazi and Stalinian prosecutions. It was inspired by secular melodies, popular dances, ‘khazones’ (khazanut, Jewish liturgy) as well as by the ‘nigunim’, the simple and often wordless melodies, intended by the ‘Hasidim’ (orthodox Jews) for approaching God in a kind of ecstatic communion.
In (mutual) contact with Slavonic, Greek, Ottoman (Turkish), Gypsy and -later- American jazz musicians, using typical scales, tempo and rhythm changes, slight dissonance and a touch of improvisation, the ‘klezmorim’ acquired the ability to evoke all kinds of emotions, through a very diversified music. “Klezmer: it’s not just music – it’s a way of life!” (Hankus Netsky) shofar Klezmorim – Middle Ages Klezmorim – 18th Century Pedotser Guzikov A klezmer kapelye (~1910) Feidman. Klezmer Music. In the Old World, klezmorim were the professional musicians who accompanied weddings and other special occasions in the Jewish community. They also played for the neighboring non-Jewish communities.
This being the case, a proper klezmer had to know not only the standard Jewish repertoire but also the traditional dance tunes of the local peasants, as well as the light classical and popular music of the day favored by the nobility and the upper classes. As a result, klezmer music evolved into a rich, flavorful cholent (stew) of all these different music forms. (Interesting to note that non-Jewish musicians, especially those who were Roma [Gypsy], often played in klezmer bands. Since the 17th century, the principal musical instruments of traditional klezmer music were the fidl (violin), wooden transverse flute and tsimbl (hammer dulcimer). From 1880 to 1924, there were massive waves of emigration from Eastern Europe as Jews fled oppression and poverty. -- Shlomo Pestcoe Links:
About Klezmer. Klezmer Music 101 - Jewish Traditions. By Megan Romer Updated October 04, 2016. Originally, the word "klezmer," from the Yiddish language, meant "vessel of song" and later, simply "musician. " However, it has come to characterize the style of secular music played by Ashkenazi Jews for joyful celebrations such as weddings. What Does Klezmer Music Sound Like? Klezmer music is intended to replicate the human voice including sounds of crying, wailing and laughing. Non-Traditional Influences on Klezmer Music Klezmer music draws on centuries-old Jewish traditions and incorporates various sounds of music from European and international traditions, including Roma (gypsy) music, Eastern European folk music (particularly Russian music), French Cafe music and early jazz.
Continue reading below our video Dancing to Klezmer Music Klezmer music is made for dancing. These klezmer pieces are meant for dancing, including fast and slow tempos: Klezmer Music and the Holocaust Recommended Klezmer Music Starter CDs.