klezmer music

KLEZMER MUSIC IN A FEW WORDS
Klezmer music originated in the 'shtetl' (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as 'klezmorim', performed at joyful events ('simkhes'), particularly weddings, since the early middle age till the nazi and Stalinian prosecutions.

It was inspired with secular melodies, popular dances, 'hazanut' (Jewish liturgy) as well as with the 'nigunim', the simple and often wordless melodies intended by the 'Hasidim' (orthodox Jews) for approaching God in a kind of ecstatic communion.

In (mutual) contact with Slavonic, Greek, Ottoman (Turkish), Arabic, Gypsy and -later- American jazz musicians, the 'klezmorim' acquired, through numerous tempo changes, irregular rhythms, dissonance and a touch of improvisation, the ability to generate a very diversified music, easily recognizable and widely appreciated all around the world.

Through its artistic copiousness and its distinctive sound, Klezmer music is unique, easily recognizable and universally appreciated, both by 'ethnic insiders' and larger audiences all around the world. Klezmer music is also an invitation to dance and goes nowadays through a real revival.

( Source : http://borzykowski.users.ch/EnglMCKlezmer.htm)