What is Klezmer?

Klezmer is Jewish party and dance music, mostly played at weddings and other festivities of the Eastern European chassidic Jews.

The word klezmer comes from the hebrew words "kley" and "zemer" and means instrument of song

The Jewish musicians, called klezmorim, travelled through Eastern Europe and earned their living by playing their own music as well as local popular tunes.

They learned much from the local musicians which resulted in a unique musical style with influences from Russia, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Rumania, American Jazz and Jewish religious music.

Klezmer utilizes oriental scales and has a special style of playing, using traditional embellishments and rhythmical effects.

Typical scales are:

Ahava Raba: C – Des – E – F – G – As – Bes – C

Misheberach: C – D – Es – Fis – G – A – Bes – C

Adonai Moloch: C – D – E – F – G – A – Bes – C

Many Klezmer songs are composed in minor scale. In modern music, when songs are composed in this scale, a sense of sadness can be acheived, but this is certainly not the case with Klezmer.

When Klezmer songs are played in minor scale, it is experienced as very happy uplifting music that can be enjoyed by everyone.

MA Klezmer musician once said:
"He suffers from happiness and celebrates the sadness."

La increible historia de la Musica klezmer
The Amazing History of Klezmer Music
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