Big Blog II: Klezmer

Klezmer

Klezmer's connection to Jewish Culture

Klezmer is the traditional music of the Ashkenazi Jews. Ashkenazi Jews are a subset of Jews that lived in the Rhineland valley and neighbouring France in the late 900s CE. After the Crusades in the 11th to 13th centuries, they migrated east to the Slavic lands (Russia, Lithuania, Poland etc.). In the late 17th century large numbers of Jews migrated to western Europe to escape persecution. They traditionally speak Yiddish and comprise more than 80 percent of the worlds Jewish population. 

Klezmer is the Yiddish word for musical instrument. However, it came to represent not only the instrument, but the musician themselves. Eventually it came to describe only klezmer players as klezmer, and they assigned a new word to other musicians who did not play klezmer. Klezmer only started being the term for the genre of music when traditional Ashkenazic musicians came to the US. Americans began to use that word for not only the musicians, but their music as well.

Klezmer's evolution

Klezmer bands have been documented to exist dating back to the 15th century. Perhaps the biggest influence on klezmer is the liturgical music of the Jewish religion. The scales and ornamentation used derive from the modes and vocal styles of Jewish religious music. This set them apart from many other musical styles of the time.

Below are the most common scales of klezmer music. The first word on each scale is what the klezmer would call their scales. The words in brackets are other names the scales could go by.

The first scale, Freygish, has Hijaz written beside it. It is the name assigned for that scale in the Arabic maqam. Since Judaism originates in Israel they have ties to the middle east. 

However, the closest relative of klezmer was the music of the Roma (or Romani). In fact, they often played together at parties to create one larger syncretic band. When it came to performing at non-Jewish weddings, klezmer groups were preferred for their wide range of repertoire, modesty, and sobriety. One thing that the klezmer musicians picked up from the Roma was the cimbalom, a type of dulcimer with a pedal used to dampen the strings.

As well as taking influence from cantorial Jewish music, klezmer also draws from German and Slavic folk dances, Greek and Romanian folk music, and Baroque music.

Characteristics of Klezmer

Traditionally, klezmer bands would be comprised of just a few musicians about 3-5 playing string and woodwind instruments. In early klezmer, a violinist would usually be the leader and assigned the melody. Other instruments could have been a hammered dulcimer, trombone, flute, or clarinet. As klezmer developed and interacted with other musical styles accordion, trumpet, tuba, bass drum, and cello became more popular. The average size of klezmer groups expanded from 3-5 to 10-15 with the addition of these instruments. With the addition of the clarinet, the violin became a secondary melody instrument with the clarinet taking the main responsibility of melody.

Klezmer music is meant to take on characteristics of human sounds. Laughter and crying is portrayed with certain styles of pitch bending. Klezmer is sometimes called the musical representation of the Yiddish language. Klezmer is generally fast and up-beat, but some klezmer music portrays sadder emotions.

My Dear Son Efraim performed by Giora Fiedman & others

This song starts with a sad clarinet solo, but is interjected and a happy theme plays. The first theme returns with piano and ends back on the happy theme.

Wedding Music

At traditional Jewish weddings there are many places when music is played. There is also a huge variety and no "right way" exists. In the Early Modern Era (1500-1800), klezmer bands would have played local dance tunes and traditional wedding songs. The would provide processionals to accompany the service to the shul (synagogue), play during the veiling of the bride, seating the bride, paying respect to the in-laws, and for escorting older family members home.

Wedding Medley performed by the Sound of Klezmer

Many if not all of these songs are mean to be danced to. However, there has been little research into Yiddish dancing, unlike their music. One dance that is still done to this day at Jewish weddings is the Horah. 

The Hora is a dance that originated with Romanians, but was culturally adapted by the Ashkenazi Jews and changed to "Horah" for their weddings. In this dance, people put their arms around each others shoulders and spin in a circle jumping along with the music. The music to this dance is traditionally, "Hava Nagila." This can also be the song that the bride and groom are lifted into the air on chairs. The bride holds out her handkerchief and the groom tries to grab a hold of it while they are thrust up and down in the air.

Another example of klezmer music. This band plays for about an hour so I recommend just listening for a few minutes. Skip around to hear different songs.

Bibliography

Augustyn, Adam. “Ashkenazi.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed January 26, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ashkenazi.

Davidow, Ari. “Klezmer History.” Nahalat Shalom Home. Accessed January 26, 2024. https://www.nahalatshalom.org/klezmer-history.

Krueger, Alyson. “What to Know about the Jewish Hora Dance.” Brides, January 6, 2022. https://www.brides.com/hora-dance-5069553.

Kurland, Joe. “The Wholesale Klezmer Bandguide to Jewish Weddings.” The Wholesale Klezmer guide to Jewish Weddings. Accessed January 26, 2024. http://www.ganeydn.com/wedding.html#:~:text=According%20to%20tradition%2C%20it%20is,couple%20is%20lifted%20on%20chairs.