A collection of traditional Klezmer Tunes in original arrangements for clarinet with piano accompaniment. Easy to Advanced Level.
1.
Odessa Bulgarish
"Odessa Bulgarish" is a traditional klezmer piece originating in the Ukraine. Bulgarish refers to a popular klezmer dance form the bulgareasca. This melody is one of the most popular in the revival of klezmer music.
"Flaskadriga" is a popular Klezmer that may also go by the title "Chosid Tanzt" ("Chasidic Dance"), "Rebens Tanz" ("Rabbi's Dance") and "Tanets (Takets) Rabina" ("Rabbi's Dance") (though each of these versions, whilst starting the same, may vary in subsequent sections). Being harmonically rather static, it relies heavily on variation in the accompaniment pattern to keep things moving, making it feel like a hypnotic Hasidic Admor's (spiritual leader's) dance.
"Freilechs" or "Freylekhs" are the most common types of Klezmer dance tunes, usually in 2/4 and intended for circle dances. "Freilechs Von Der Chuppe" (also "Freylekhs Fun Der Khupe") means "Freilechs from/beneath the Wedding Canopy". More innocently, the melody is also known as "A Lustige Nacht In Eretz Isroel" ("A Joyful Night in the Land of Israel").
"All My Love" is a waltz time Klezmer based on a tune by French composer Emile Waldteufel. It was adapted by Al Johnson, Saul Chaplin and Harry Akst, the lyrics beginning: "All My Love is for you alone/It will still keep growing when other loves have flown."
"Abe Gezint," meaning "As Long as You are Healthy" is a song by Abe Ellstein, with lyrics by Molly Picon. Ellstein worked as an American composer for Yiddish entertainments and wrote the hit musical "Yidl Mitn Fidl" ("Yiddle With His Fiddle") and an opera, "The Golem," based on a mythical tale about the Central European Jews.
Hora, also known as "Zhok" is a triple-time dance. Its rhythmic style, which tends to emphasise the first and third beats, derives from the Romanian hora. Indeed, the word "Zhok" is a mutation of the Romanian word "Joc," meaning "dance."
"Patch Tanz" is also known as "Klapper Tanz," meaning "Clapping Dance." The claps may be added in bars 12, 14, 16 and 18. The earliest known recording of the popular melody is by Elenkrig's Orchestra in 1913. It has been widely performed since and appears in a number of "Fake Books" of Jewish music.
"Varshaver," also written Warshaver or Warshiver means, simply, "Warsaw," the geographical origin of this well-known Klezmer. Freylekhs is a description of the most universal type of Klezmer tune, usually in 2/4 and used for circle dances. Varshaver Freylekhs appears in a number of published Klezmer collections and has been recorded by the Abe Schwartz Orchestra, the Maxwell St Klezmer Band and N. Hollender as early as 1915.
"Unser Toirele," ("Our Little Baby") is also known as "Die Fralachi Yidalach" ("The Joyful Jew"). Abe Schwartz recorded it in 1923 under the latter name and again in 1928 under the former (though spelt "Unzer Toyrele"). It remains a popular tune, appearing in a number of publications, including the International Hebrew Wedding Music compilation. Recent recordings include those by Kapelye, Budowitz and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band.
Whilst "Sadeguerer Khosid" (also spelt "Sadeguerer/Sadegvrer/Sadigarer" and "Chussid/Chusidil/Khosidl") literally means "Dance from Sadegur," "Khosid" can also refer to a specific type of dance normally performed in 2/4 or 4/4 time. The dance is performed in a circle or a line.The song is a popular one, having been performed by Abe Schwartz's Orchestra, IJ Hochman, Bob Berkman Klezmerola Belf's Rumanian Orchestra, Klez Messengers, Andy Statman and others.
11.
Joseph Rumshinsky.. - Libes Shmertsn (The Pain of Love)
“Libes Shmertsn” (“The Pain of Love”), is a slow Klezmer in triple time. It was written by Joseph Rumshinsky, who, along with Sholom Secunda, Alexander Olshanetsky and Abraham Ellstein, is considered one of the "big four" composers and conductors of American Yiddish theatre.
Ozhidanie is claimed by many Klezmer orchestras as a Jewish piece. Its origins are, however, by no means clear. The song was written by a Russian, Herold Lavrentievich Kittler, and very little is known about his background, save for the fact that he served as a conductor of the 6th Tavrichesky Grenadier Regiment in the Russian army. Indeed, many Russians continue to claim this as a Soviet Army song, despite the many recordings by Klezmer groups.
Abe Schwartz was a famous klezmer violinist and composer and was responsible, under the auspices of his various orchestras, for recording some of the most important klezmer music and musicians of his day. "Sher" is a type of contradance (i.e. made of lines of couples) in 2/4. The title of this piece refers, therefore, to a popular "Sher" played by Schartz. The piece is also known as "Abe Schwartz's Famous Sher."
