A collection of Klezmer-style pieces in special arrangements for violin and piano. Easy to Advanced Level
1.
All My Love
"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."
"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.
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."
"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.
"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.
"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").
"Freylekh Zain" is one of the most enduringly popular Klezmer dances. Also known as "Ma Yofus" ("How Beautiful") and "Tantz, Tantz, Yidelekh" ("Dance, Dance, Jews"), it encapsualtes some of the most common features of the Klezmer form—it is based upon the "Freylekh" dance in 2/4 and uses a scale in which the second is flattened and the third always a raised third (a feature shared, for example with the well-known Jewish song "Hava Nagila").
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.
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.
"Broyges Tantz" (also spelled "Broiges/Broygez Tanz") means "The Angry Dance." It was a customary type of dance at weddings in small Jewish towns and villages in eastern Europe. In it, two people would do a pantomime dance of arguing and then making up as a lesson to the newlyweds.
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.
"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.
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."
