What does Freilach mean?
happy
Freilach is a Yiddish expression that means “happy” or “cheerful,” and is commonly used to refer to a form of music. Liner notes include song lyrics in their original Yiddish and in the Hebrew transliteration as well as their English translation.
Is klezmer Middle Eastern?
Klezmer (Yiddish: קלעזמער) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for listening; these would have been played at weddings and other social functions.
What defines klezmer?
Definition of klezmer 1 : a Jewish instrumentalist especially of traditional eastern European music. 2 : the music played by klezmorim.
When was klezmer invented?
The first records – in Europe in 1897, and especially in United States – also influenced the composition of the orchestras. The first known recordings of klezmer music are mainly small ensembles, like two violins and a cymbalum, with sometimes an accordion.
What does Freilich mean in Yiddish?
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition, from Middle High German vrilich ‘open’, Yiddish freylekh ‘happy’, ‘cheerful’. As a Jewish surname it can also be ornamental. …
How is klezmer music related to Jewish music?
In particular, the cadences which draw on religious Jewish music identify a piece more strongly as a Klezmer tune, even if its broader structure was borrowed from a non-Jewish source. Unlike in Classical music, vibrato is used more sparingly, and is treated as another type of ornament.
Who was the first Russian scholar to use the term klezmer?
Twentieth century Russian scholars sometimes used the term Klezmer; Ivan Lipaev did not use it, but Moisei Beregovsky did when publishing in Yiddish or Ukrainian.
What was the name of the Yiddish dance music?
Early 20th century recording industry materials and other writings had referred to it as Hebrew, Jewish, or Yiddish dance music, or sometimes using the Yiddish term Freilech music (“Cheerful music”).
Which is the most popular type of klezmer dance?
Freylekhs (also Bulgar, bulgarish – literally “Bulgarian”, volekhl / vulekhl – literally “Wallachian”, or “Romanian”) is an 8 8 (divided 3+3+2 8) circle dance, usually in the Ahava Rabboh melodic mode. Typically piano, accordion, or bass plays a duple oompah beat. These are by far the most popular klezmer dances.