Klezmer is a style of music developed by Ashkenazi Jews (Eastern European Jews). Klezmer music is strongly influenced by the history of the exile of the Jewish people and by its geographical and cultural environment. In an Eastern Europe made up of many peoples with different languages and customs, Klezmer has made its way. Itinerant music by nature, it has borrowed and given to one and all. This is why we find today the influence of Klezmer music in many styles and works throughout the world.
Klezmer music, a history marked by exile
Klezmer music, or Yiddish music, is a musical tradition of Ashkenazi Jews. It developed from the 15th century in Eastern and Central Europe. Despite a lack of reliable documentation, its geographical and stylistic origins are believed to date back to the Middle East from Roman times. It is likely that the itinerant musicians of the Jewish diaspora in exile since the fall of the Temple in 70 AD, developed the traditional musical style through contact with the cultures they encountered. These musicians, called Klezmorims, like the Gypsies, who were considered acrobats, traveled across Europe.
From the 16th century onwards, Klezmer music was restricted both by local civil authorities and by Jewish religious authorities themselves who frowned upon the public's enthusiasm for music that tended to deviate from purely religious music. It was at this time that the Klezmerims, in order to earn their living, joined other non-Jewish groups, thus promoting the transmission of influence. The Klezmorims began to regularly frequent local Christian musicians and other itinerant musicians such as the Gypsies.
With the increase in Jewish persecution and the creation of the Pogroms in Europe, klezmer music had almost disappeared. But the migration of Jews to the United States between 1870 and 1920 helped preserve the klezmer tradition. Even though klezmer music gradually fell out of fashion, it still continued to inspire other styles, notably American Jazz. Many well-known Jazz pieces originated from Yiddish music such as Joseph Joseph or Bei mir bist du Schoen.
From the 70s, artists got involved again in Klezmer music such as Giora Feidman and even helped to bring this music back into fashion with The Klezmatics or David Krakauer, or even to make it evolve in new directions with John Zorn. More recently in Europe, we are witnessing a revival of Klezmer music by musicians from all backgrounds such as the Barcelona Gypsy Band or the Basilic Swing.
Musical aspects of Klezmer music
Klezmer music reflects the influence of Central and Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy and Turkish music.
In the United States, Klezmer music has incorporated elements of Jazz.
Originally, Klezmer was used to animate dances, and performances could last a very long time. This is why the tempo was not defined and could vary significantly within the same piece. It was not regular in order to be able to adapt to the fatigue of the dancers and musicians. This irregularity of tempo has become part of the musical tradition of the style.
Klezmer Music Instruments
To play Klezmer music, originally, it was necessary above all to have instruments that were neither too heavy, nor bulky, nor too noisy, given the itinerant nature of the musicians.
Typical instruments include:
- The violin (Fidl in Yiddish): easily transportable, the violin lends itself well to modulation and glissando. It is the most symbolic of the Klezmer instruments.
- The clarinet: an essential instrument of Klezmer, it recalls the sound of the SHOFAR, an instrument made with a ram's horn and used during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in the synagogue. The clarinet allows the singing of the lamentations typical of Klezmer music.
- The double bass became an essential instrument in Klezmer music after the arrival of the Jews in Poland. This instrument brought a melodic richness to the bass as well as a lively rhythmic dimension.
- Guitars, which arrived late, replaced the cymbalum, a very old instrument with very rich rhythmic, harmonic and melodic possibilities. Widely used in Eastern Europe, especially among Gypsies and Russians, this very bulky and heavy instrument was replaced by guitars, which were much easier to transport.
Today, Klezmer musicians oscillate between traditional music and modern evolution of this style. Other groups like Basilic Swing work on the influence of Klezmer music on other musical styles.
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