Klezmer Resources

1001 Drum Grooves, Steve Mansfield, Cherry Lane Music Company.

This is a great book for picking up the basic grooves used in a wide variety of musical styles. It has several good grooves for frailachs and bulgars.

Compleat Klezmer, The, Henry Sapoznik, Tara Publications.

This book is the definitive Klezmer anthology. Introduction, in depth musical analysis, 33 annotated melodies, Discography, historical background, annotations, resources, bibliography and more. Companion recording features samples by the original artists.

Contemporary Music Theory, Mark Harrison, Hal Leonard Corporation.

The Music Theory series is designed from the ground-up to explain the terminology and musical structures needed for modern applications. Level One is an introductory course which covers music notation, key signatures, basic scales, intervals, modes, diatonic relationships and 3-and 4-part chords. Level Two is an intermediate-level course covering larger chord forms, definitive chords in major and minor keys, substitutions, analysis of key centers in tunes, upper structure chords, voiceleading, and pentatonic and blues scale applications. Both levels include reference appendices, a complete glossary of terms, and hundreds of written theory exercises with answers.

Guitar Mode Encyclopedia, Jody Fisher, Alfred Publishing Company.

This remarkably thorough text covers all the modes of the major, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales. Twenty-one different modes are explained in detail and examined from five different perspectives. In addition, open position fingerings, closed position fingerings, harmonies, chord voicings, tips for improvisation, practice progressions, melodic patterns and sample solos are provided.

Jewish Fake Book, The, Velvel Pasternak, Tara Publications.

The first Jewish music fake book! 212 songs for every possible occasion, selected by the world`s foremost authority on Jewish music. Includes music for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, parties, and holidays. Klezmer, Wedding, Israeli, Dance, Yiddish, Sephardic, Holidays and Hassidic music all in one volume!

Jewish Holidays in Song, Velvel Pasternak, Tara Publications.

More than 100 beloved songs for the Sabbath and Festivals of the year. Songs for Hanukah, the Seder, High Holidays, Sukot, Simchat Torah, Shavuot etc. Melody line, chords, texts and transliterations.

Joy of Klez, From the Repertoire of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, Lori Lippitz, et. al., Tara Publications.

10 full band arrangements from the repertoire of the acclaimed Maxwell Street Klezmer Band

Kammen International Dance Folio, No. 1, Jack Kammen and Joseph Kammen, J & J Kammen Music Co.

The only two remaining Softcover volumes of the original Klezmer and International Dance series. The `Bible` of this musical genre during the first half of the 20th century. Music: Jewish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Romanian, Italian, Polish, Russian, American, Czechoslovak, Gypsy etc. Horas, Shers, Doinas, Freilachs, Waltzes, Czardas and more.

Kammen International Dance and Concert Folio, No. 9, arranged by Jack Kammen and William Scher;

compiled by Joseph Kammen, J & J Kammen Music Co. The only two remaining Softcover volumes of the original Klezmer and International Dance series. The 'Bible' of this musical genre during the first half of the 20th century. Music: Jewish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Romanian, Italian, Polish, Russian, American, Czechoslovak, Gypsy etc. Horas, Shers, Doinas, Freilachs, Waltzes, Czardas and more.

Klezmer Band Folio, The, Ken Richmond, Tara Publications.

12 authentic Klezmer arrangements for full band meticulously transcribed from the repertoire of the Yale Klezmer Band. Scored for any C instrument, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass etc. with guitar chords. Includes: Lebedik Un Freylekh, Khassene Tantz, Nokh A Glezele Vayn, etc.

Klezmer Plus! Folio, The, Henry Sapoznik, et. al., Tara Publications

27 Klezmer tunes in lead sheet form, plus 3 complete orchestrations as recorded by veteran music masters Sid Beckerman and Howie Lees on the recording Klezmer Plus!

Mel Bay's Klezmer Collection, Stacy Phillips, Mel Bay Publications.

A collection of 120 melodies meticulously transcribed from recordings by the masters of the klezmer style, including Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwine, Abe Schwartz and many more. Written in standard notation for C or B-flat instruments, this book includes chordal accompaniment, program notes for each piece, and interviews with master klezmer musician Andy Statman and ethnomusicologist Dr. Walter Zev Feldman. The rich cultural origins of this music include Central and Eastern European Jewry, secular folk music, and Western art and popular music.

Mir Trogn a Gezang, The New Book of Yiddish Songs, Eleanor Gordon Mlotek, Workmen's Circle Education Department.

This collection of Yiddish classics touches on all aspects of the Jewish experience, from songs of chilhood such as "Oyfn Pripetshik" to love riddles like "Tum Balalayke." With a special supplement of songs by Mordkhe Gebirtig. Includes Yiddish texts, translations, transliterations, melody lines and guitar chords.

Peter Sokolow's Guide to Klezmer Arranging and Orchestration, Peter Sokolow, Tara Publications.

A professional klezmer arranging course that will teach you the basics of setting up a notation, arrangement, instrument combinations, phrasing, etc.

World's Most Popular Jewish Songs, Volume 1, The, Velvel Pasternak and Edward Kalendar, Tara Publications.

The best-known, best-loved Jewish songs for piano and voice. These are the songs everyone knows and loves. From Israeli Folk Songs, to the most essential holiday melodies, to Yiddish favorites, to contemporary hits by Debbie Friedman and Shlomo Carlebach. These songs are culled from the best selling International Jewish Songbook. Volume 1 Includes popular Israeli ballads, songs for Passover and Chanukah (including Peter Yarrow's Light One Candle), favorite songs from the liturgy, Debbie Friedman's Alef Bet, and Yiddish gems Oifn Pripitchik and Tumbalalaika.

Yiddish Song Favorites, Frank Metis and Gene Bluestein, Amsco Publications.

Here is a gathering of songs of love and songs of struggle--songs of hard times and songs of fun times. Drawn from the rich heritage of the golden age of Yiddish theater and popular song, this collection features words and music by Molly Picon, Aaron Lebedeff, Joseph Rumshinsky, Sholom Secunda, Abraham Ellstein, and others who captured the soul and spirit of a people in music. With piano accompaniment and guitar chords.