Discover the Klezmer
Klezmer means in Hebrew the vessel of the song, the instrument of the voice, The Klezmer is the traditional Jewish
music originated in Eastern Europe a few centuries ago. It is an instrumental celebration music, a music full of
contradictions, a blending of the extremes, it is secular but loaded with sacred content, it can express joy or
sadness, hope or despair, it is intrinsically a dance music, but can be also meditative and profound. It
is the mirror of the full range of human emotions. Here is an introduction to Klezmer.
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The Origin of Klezmer
The King David's Psalms are maybe the first manifestation of structured music, so the roots of Klezmer and
music itself can be found in the Bible. Explore the history of Klezmer from the Biblical epoch through the
Hassidic movement until the avant-garde of the 21th century.
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Joseph Gusikov
Joseph Gusikov was the first klezmer star of the history, this fragile young man was one of the most
popular concert performer at the beginning of the 19th century, he managed to bring Jewish music and
klezmer to the concert halls and salons of the capitals of Europe, thanks to his talent and true
genius.
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Abraham Zvi Idelsohn
Idelsohn is an ethnomusicologist and he is the father of the Jewish musicology. At the beginning of the
20th century he recorded on cylinders hundred of traditional Klezmer and oriental melodies and gathered
them all in a monumental thesaurus which is the musicological reference until today.
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Hava Nagila
Hava Nagila, the archetype of the Israeli folksong, it was a hassidic traditional tune from Bessarabia.
Abraham Idelsohn arrange this tune and wrote lyrics inspired by the King David's Psalms. It became an
international standard, Read the whole story...
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The Klezmer Revival
After the massive emigration of Eastern European Jews to America, the klezmer blossomed and flourished,
hundreds of records were released, klezmer bands and soloists were at the peak of their popularity. But
since the late twenties the flame of klezmer started to wane. The horror of WWII pushed it even more into
quasi oblivion. Then out of nowhere, in the early seventies, the klezmer came back to life, thanks to
wonderful artists like Giora Feidman, Andy Statman, Henry Sapoznik, Michael Alpert, Hankus Netsky, Joel
Rubin. This was the klezmer revival, the rebirth, the renaissance.
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How To Play Klezmer
Is there a magic formula or a blueprint that will turn you into a master klezmer player, probably not. Here
I will try to throw some light and help you to to you in the right tracks and touch on the art of klezmer
and how to play klezmer.
The Clarinet Klezmer Players
The clarinet is the instrument of predilection of Klezmer. And most valuable Klezmer musicians are clarinet players
like Giora Feidman, Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwein, David Krakauer, David Statman and many others
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Giora Feidman
Giora Feidman is already a legend, born in Buenos aires, the cradle of Tango, in a four generations family
of Klezmorim, Giora was a major actor of the klezmer revival in the seventies, especially in Europe. Read
the biography of Giora Feidman.
- Naftule Brandwein The King
Of Klezmer
Naftule Brandwein, The King of Klezmer was a phenomenon in the world of early American Klezmer, he was an
eccentric musician but a fabulous clarinet Klezmer player, an inspiration for the next generations.
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Dave Tarras
Born in Ukraine at the end of the 19th century. He emigrated to America and brought in his luggage the
Eastern European tradition. He blended the roots of his fathers with the American popular music in an
inimitable style...
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Andy Statman
Born in the Queens New York in 1950, Andy Statman began his musical career as a young virtuoso mandolin
bluegrass player, then searching his Jewish roots, he turn to clarinet Klezmer and initiate a mystical
musical journey. He his one of the major contributor of the Klezmer revival.
- Helmut Eisel
Helmut Eisel who became in Germany the assistant of Giora Feidman is a phenomenal clarinetist and a true master
in the art of improvisation. His virtuosity is only surpassed by his expressiveness and sensibility
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German Goldenshteyn
German Goldenshteyn is known as "the living tradition". From his native Bessarabia he brought hundred of
traditional melodies and contributed to the Klezmer revival in America in the seventies.
Klezmer Rhythms and Dances
Discover Jewish and Klezmer songs, dances and rhythms, freilakhs, bulgar, doina, sher, horas, nigun...
Klezmer Music Modes
This very particular sound that characterizes the Klezmer is due in part to the way of interpretation but also to
the modes used .
Klezmer Youtube Best Videosl
A selection of the best YouTube video clips showing off the most prominent Klezmer clarinet players. Enjoy watching
and listening
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Giora Feidman
Giora loves to perform in public and nourish the audience with spiritual food "inner nourishment, that we
need and must share with each other, like the sight of a sculpture or a painting, or the body in
ballet."
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Helmut Eisel live
Watch and listen to Helmut Eisel with his JEM band and the Klezmer All Star Clarinet Gang playing beautiful
and stirring pieces of the Klezmer and classical repertoire.
- Andy Statman YouTube
Andy Statman takes us on a mystic journey, oscillating between heaven and earth, modernity and tradition,
bluegrass and Klezmer, a master of the mandolin and a clarinet virtuoso.
- David Krakauer Klezmer
Madness YouTube
David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness, Socalled, live performances. David Krakauer is a versatile artist, a superb
virtuoso who plays the klezmer of the 21th centuries, he is the link between tradition and
avant-garde.
- David Orlowsky on YouTube
A new generation of clarinet klezmer players is growing, they are learning the tradition from the senior
artists and are adding a special touch of freshness and modernity. David Orlowsky is one of those young
talents
Free Klezmer Scores
Here you will find original arrangements and transcriptions of Klezmer tunes and great standards. New titles will
be added regularly. Download free clarinet sheet music.
Clarinet Resources
The clarinet pages are a collection of resource and topics about the clarinet dedicated to the community of
clarinet lovers all around the world.
- Clarinet Care And
Maintenance
Tips and methods to keep your clarinet in top playing condition and avoid cracking. How to care for your
clarinet.
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Clarinet Breaking In
There are important rules to follow when you play with a new wood clarinet. How to perform a successful
breaking in and ensure years of enjoyable playing.
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How to choose a clarinet
mouthpiece
Of all the elements of a clarinet player's arsenal, the mouthpiece is the most important one, because it is
mostly responsible for the sound production. Therefore the choice of the right mouthpiece is crucial for
every woodwinds players. Tips and advices will help you in your choice.
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What is the ultimate
clarinet sound
Reaching that perfect clarinet sound is one of the goal of many clarinet players. But does such a sound
exist? To describe that sound with words is not a simple task. Here are a few answers.
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