The Book of Klezmer: The History, the Music, the Folklore

by Yale Strom

Overview

Klezmer is Yiddish music, the music of the Jews of Europe and America, a music of laughter and tears, of weddings and festivals, of dancing and prayer. Born in the Middle Ages, it came of age in the shtetl (the Eastern European Jewish country town), where "a wedding without klezmer is worse than a funeral without tears." Most of the European klezmorim (klezmer players) were murdered in the Holocaust; in the last 25 years, however, klezmer has been reborn, with dozens of groups, often mixing klezmer with jazz or rock, gaining large followings throughout the world.

The Book of Klezmer traces the music’s entire history, making use of extensive documentary material; interviews with forgotten klezmorim as well as luminaries such as Theodore Bikel, Leonard Nimoy, Joel Grey, Andy Statman, and John Zorn; and dozens of illuminating, stirring, and previously unpublished photographs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613740637
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/01/2011
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Yale Strom is the author of six books on Eastern European Jews and gypsies; has made four highly acclaimed documentaries, including The Last Klezmer, and a feature film; and is the leader of two klezmer bands, with nine records to his name.

Table of Contents

	A Note on Yiddish Spellings	viii
	Acknowledgments	ix
	Introduction	xiii
1	Fun David Ha-Melekh biz Duvid der Klezmer (From King David to Duvid the Klezmer)	1
2	Fun der Haskole biz Dem Khurbn (From the Enlightenment to the Holocaust)	49
3	Klezmer in der Naye Velt: 1880-1960 (Klezmer in the New World: 1880-1960)	143
4	Fun Zev biz Zorn: Di Bale-Kulturniks (From Zev to Zorn: The Masters of Culture)	187
Appendix 1	Klezmer Zikhroynes in di Yizker Bikher (Klezmer Memories in the Memorial Books)	267
Appendix 2	Klezmer Loshn (Klezmer Slang)	327
Appendix 3	Klezmer Nigunim (Klezmer Tunes)	343
	Glossary	355
	Bibliography	363
	Discography	371
	Index	375

Editorial Reviews

“On the stage, on the screen, and now on the page, Yale Strom has made me tingle with the wonderful feel and poignant heritage of klezmer music. The emotional stories in this book will reach every heart, not just Jewish ones.”  —Arthur Hiller

“A remarkably entertaining and carefully documented study.”  —Choice

“Strom uses an artist’s hand . . . and shows that a history of art can be a work of art as well.”  —Jewish Bulletin

“Few modern practitioners are better equipped to examine and celebrate klezmer's history than Yale Strom . . . Just about everything you could ever want to know about klezmer is supplied in the book.”  —San Diego Union-Tribune

“Full of exciting facts . . . a musical treasure full of never-before-published material.”  —San Diego Jewish Times

“This very good book has an anecdotal, folkloric quality that makes for pleasant browsing. A valuable addition to klezmer literature.”  —Theodore Bikel

“The best, most thorough, klezmer book on the market.”  —Cleveland Jewish News

“By far, the best book on the history and folklore of instrumental Jewish music.”  —RootsWorld

From the Publisher

There is a wealth of information in The Book of Klezmer, much of it never before gathered in one volume.

Sing Out

Strom uses an artist's hand . . . and shows that a history of art can be a work of art as well.

Jewish Bulletin

A real treat . . . Mr. Strom is a real storyteller . . . the reading is fun, easy and it's a quick read.

Book and Score Reviews

A remarkably entertaining and carefully documented study.

Choice

Recommended for those interested in discovering this music's roots while gaining an eye into its future.

All About Jazz New York

By far, the best book on the history and folklore of instrumental Jewish music.

RootsWorld

Full of exciting facts . . a musical treasure full of never-before-published material.

San Diego Jewish Times

Provides a deeply researched and very readable introduction.

Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

An intriguing as well as an interesting book.... a timely, scholarly, as well as readable work

Jewish Post and Opinion

A scholarly history

Star Tribune

The best, most thorough, klezmer book on the market.

Cleveland Jewish News

An entertaining read, but also a valuable piece of research.

Jewish Week

Few modern practitioners are better equipped to examine and celebrate klezmer's history than Yale Strom . . . Just about everything you could ever want to know about klezmer is supplied in the book.

San Diego Union Tribune

Exhaustively researched.

Forward

This remarkable book contains interviews and accounts of klezmer musicians and the music's history in Eastern Europe and the New World. Strom, who is a klezmer musician as well as historian and writer, interviewed survivors of the Holocaust<-->when klezmer music came in danger of being annihilated along with the Jews<-->during travels in Eastern Europe, along with present day klezmer musicians who have fueled its revival. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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