Klezmer

Jewish music · Eastern Europe · dance · instrumental

Born for celebrations. Klezmer music was played at Jewish weddings and parties in Central and Eastern Europe, filling rooms with dance tunes and ritual melodies that got people moving and celebrating together.

Musical mashup. Klezmer mixed sounds from many different cultures, blending Ottoman music, Baroque classical style, German and Slavic folk dances, and Jewish religious melodies into one unique genre.

Journey to America. When Jewish musicians brought klezmer to the United States in the early 1900s, it changed and picked up flavors from American big band and popular music, becoming something new and exciting.

Virtuoso performers. Early klezmer superstars like Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein amazed audiences with their incredible improvisations, making up musical passages on the spot that nobody had ever heard before.

Still played today. Though it started centuries ago, klezmer continues to be played around the world by musicians who love its energetic, soulful sound and the stories it tells about Jewish heritage.