Klezmer Clarinets - Timothy Loest

Klezmer Classics - Johan de Meij

Klezmer is the traditional instrumental music for weddings and parties of the Yiddish speaking Jews of Eastern Europe. Its origin goes back to the sixteenth century. At this time Yiddish culture was at its peak in the countries where the Jews then lived: Poland, Ukraine, Byelorussia (White Russia), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. In recent years there has been a revival in popularity of this style of music and it is often played outside of its traditional context. Johan de Meij has arranged five classics from the Klezmer repertoire into a colourful selection for concert band.

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Klezmer Dances - Stephen Bulla

Klezmer music has achieved a new popularity with its exotic melodic content and surprising harmonies. Expressing pathos, humor, mystery and even boisterous fun, this music has a style like no other. The Klezmer repertoire ispredominantly dance songs for weddings and other celebrations: the lyrics, terminology and song titles are typically in Yiddish. Treat your audience and musicians to a very different experience with a performance that will beunlike any of the other pieces you have programmed.

Klezmer Discovery - Sjaak van der Reijden

The Yiddish word 'Klezmer' has been derived from the Old Hebrew words 'Kley' (tool, instrument) and 'Zemer' (song, singing, making music).Klezmer is the traditional music of Jews from Eastern Europe.Yiddish musicians (Klezmorim) were regularly invited to come and play at Yiddish weddings as well as several other Jewish celebrations and festive occasions. Despite its close connection with traditional Eastern European folk music, Klezmer music has succeeded in preserving its distinctive Jewish character. 'Klezmer Discovery' is a voyage of discovery through the richly varied music of the Jewish people from Eastern Europe.The introduction consists of anumber of motives from different traditional melodies (a Mitzve Tenzel and L'cha Dodi), followed by a melody in 3/8th time (Kandel's Hora). This dance melody originally came from Bessarabia (present-day Moldavia) and was taken along to America by Jewish musicians round 1900. Subsequently, 'Der Terk in Amerika', a composition by famous clarinet player Naftule Brandwein can be heard. A number of fast, cheerful dance melodies (bulgars) form the finale of 'Klezmer Discovery' (Lebedyk un Freylekh, Lomir sich iberbetn and Sherele).

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Klezmer Fantasy - Marcel Saurer

Klezmer Fantasy (2 Trumpets Solo) - Marcel Saurer

Klezmer Fantasy (3 Trumpets Solo) - Marcel Saurer

Klezmer Fantasy (Clarinet Solo) - Marcel Saurer

Klezmer Fantasy (Trumpet Solo) - Marcel Saurer

Klezmer Fantasy (Violin Solo) - Marcel Saurer