Klezmer Artists. Klezmer Conservatory Band. Klezmer Conservatory Band - Rumania Rumania. The Klezmatics. The Klezmatics — Hanuka gelt. Biography. Written by Jeff Tamarkin Since their emergence more than 30 years ago, the Klezmatics have raised the bar for Eastern European Jewish music, made aesthetically, politically and musically interesting recordings, inspired future generations, created a large body of work that is enduring, and helped to change the face of contemporary Yiddish culture. Often called a “Jewish roots band,” the Klezmatics have led a popular revival of this ages-old, nearly forgotten art form.
They have performed in more than 20 countries and released 11 albums to date—most recently the album Apikorsim (Heretics), produced by Danny Blume (who helped the band win a Grammy in 2006) and the first of the band’s albums to feature only the 6 members. On their Grammy-winning 2006 album Wonder Wheel, the Klezmatics set a dozen previously unsung Woody Guthrie lyrics to music, widening their stylistic base by largely diverging from klezmer. “Klezmer,” says London, “is the unique sound of East European Jewishness.
What Instruments Are Played in Klezmer Music? Klezmer music is a Yiddish folk music that developed during the renaissance in Eastern Europe. The style features mainly acoustic instruments, though modern American takes on the style incorporate drums and vocals into the blueprint, as well. Because of its origins, klezmer is still considered a form of Jewish music, and is frequently heard at Jewish weddings and other functions. Violin The violin sits at the heart of klezmer music. Hammered Dulcimer An ancient instrument different from the picked Appalachian dulcimer present in bluegrass sounds, the hammered dulcimer is a large stringed-instrument that musicians play by striking strings with drumstick-like hammers. Accordion Although it's a more recent addition to klezmer music, accordions provide another layer of melodies.
Clarinet American klezmer revivalists embraced the clarinet's steadfast sound and octave range as the genre found a home in America. Drums Drums are a modern and recent addition to the klezmer band. Brass. Klezmer. Klezmer (Yiddish: כליזמר or קלעזמער (klezmer), pl.: כליזמרים (klezmorim), כליזמר from Hebrew: כלי זמר — instruments of music) is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations.
In the United States the genre evolved considerably as Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, who arrived between 1880 and 1924,[1] met and assimilated American jazz. During the initial years after the klezmer revival of the 1970s, this was what most people knew as klezmer, although in the current century musicians have begun paying more attention to the "original" pre-jazz traditions as revivalists including Josh Horowitz, Yale Strom, and Bob Cohen have spent years doing field research in Eastern/Central Europe.
Etymology[edit] Style[edit] History[edit] Klezmer musicians in Jerusalem Repertoire[edit]