The New Klezmorim: Voices Inside the Revival of Yiddish Music

David Kaufman's documentary overview of an annual gathering in Canada called KlezKanada, celebrating the culture of Yiddish music (the term Yiddish--which is often used to denote German-speaking, middle-European Jews--also describes a Jewish culture of music, dance, and other forms of entertainment), should find a welcome audience thanks to the folk music revival sweeping North America. The music, referred to as Klezmer, is a haunting and happy blend of acoustic instruments, most notably the clarinet, violin and piano (as one participant notes, to make a minor key sound happy is an accomplishment). Although the originators of the form had no special term for their music (but they did call themselves “Klezmers”), the new revival of Klezmer, with roots going back 15-20 years, was borne from a desire on the part of some Jews to culturally distinguish themselves from the music of “assimilated American Judaism” found in the Jewish music bins at record stores. Featuring performances from contemporary Klezmer musicians including Brave Old World, the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, and Adrienne Cooper, The New Klezmorim offers a delightful report on the state of Klezmer music today. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)