Klezmer

Klezmer (כלזמיר, from Hebrew k'li zemer כלי זמר, "instrument of song") is a musical tradition which parallels Hasidic and Ashkenazic Judaism. Around the 15th century, a tradition of secular (non-liturgical) Jewish music was developed by musicians called klezmorim. They drew on devotional traditions extending back into Biblical times, and their musical legacy of klezmer continues to evolve today. The repertoire is largely dance songs for weddings and other celebrations.

Song types

Most klezmer pieces are intended to be danced to, from fast to slow tempo:

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• The freylekh (freilach) or bulgar (bulgarisch) is a (3+3+2 = 8)/8 circle dance, usually in the Ahava Rabboh melodic mode. Typically piano, accordion, or bass plays a duple oom-pah beat. These are by far the most popular klezmer dances. The name "bulgar" probably refers to the Bulgarian minority in Bessarabia, although their association with this particular dance has long been forgotten.
• The sher is a set dance in 2/4. It is one of the most common klezmer dances.
• The khosidl, named after the Hasidic Jews who danced it, is a more dignified embellished dance in 2/4 or 4/4. The dance steps can be performed in a circle or in a line.
• The hora or zhok is a Romanian-style dance in a hobbling 3/8 time with beats on 1 and 3, and is even more embellished. It is unrelated to the Israeli hora.
• The kolomeike is a fast and catchy dance in 2/4 time, which originated in Ukraine, and is prominent in the folk music of that country.
• The terkish is a 4/4 dance like the habanera. Terk in America is one famous arrangement by Naftule Brandwein, who used this form extensively.
• The skotschne (Polish for "hopping") could be an instrumental display piece, but also a dance piece, like a more elaborate freylekh.
• The Nign, which means "melody" in Hebrew, a mid-paced song in 2/4.
• Waltzes were very popular, whether classical, Russian, or Polish. A padespan was a sort of Russian/Spanish waltz known to klezmers.
• The mazurka and polka, Polish dances, were often played for both Jews and Gentiles.
• Cakewalks were African-American folk dances popular around the start of the 20th century, even among Eastern European Jews.
• The czardas is a Hungarian dance popular among the Jews of Hungary, Slovakia, and the Carpathians. It started off slowly and gradually increased in tempo.
• The sirba, a Romanian dance in 2/4. It featured hopping steps and short bursts of running, accompanied by triplets in the melody.
• The tango, the well-known dance that originated in Argentina. These were extremely popular around the world in the 1930s, and many Eastern European tangos were originally written by Jews.

Additionally, there are types not designed for dance:

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• A doina is a improvisational lament usually performed solo, and is extremely important in weddings. Its basis is the Romanian shepherd's lament, so it has a expressive vocal quality, like the singing of the hazzan. Although it has no form, it is not just random sounds in a Jewish mode--the musician works with very particular references to Jewish prayer and East European laments. Typically it is performed on violin or clarinet, though been done on everything from banjoes to xylophones. Often it is the first of a 3-part set, followed by a hora, then either a freylakhs or khosidl.
• A taqsim is a freeform prelude that introduces the motifs of the following piece, which is usually a freylakhs.
• A fantazi or fantasy is a freeform song, traditionally played at Jewish weddings to the guests as they dined. It resembles the fantasia of "light" classical music.