Featuring a range of pieces from a Russian folk song, easy, playable with 48 basses, to lively Balkan and Klezmer dances, this collection has something for everyone! Playing tips help you perform the pieces in their authentic styles. As an extra: 4 pieces in duo versions with both C and Bb parts for the melody. In three interviews, musicians in the scene provide cultural background information. On the professionally produced CD, which includes selected musical guests, you can listen to all the pieces included in the book.  

More than 30 songs and dances from Eastern Europe – ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate and often to be played with 48 basses – provide an overview of the musical tradition of the people of Eastern Europe. Additional playing tips and explanations of the dance forms make it easier for musicians to perform the songs authentically. This book expands the background knowledge about cultural history through three interviews with musicians from the Klezmer scene. 

Introduction

At the Gate of the Old Tsar's Palace 

Nane Zocha 

Accompaniment to Nane Zocha 

Stenka Rasin 

Down the Kasanka 

Karen's Klezmer

About Freygish and Karaguna: Scales in East European Music

Ornamentation in the Melody - The Trill 

A Song and a Dance from Romania - Farkojfn di Saposhkelech 

Ando Verdan 

Three Yiddish Dance Songs

Ozhidanje (Expection)

Accompaniment to Ozhidanje 

Tanz, Yidelekh!

Yolanda's Csárdás 

Playing Tips: Play "Crisp" Rhythms 

The "Kick" for the Chords 

Amol is gewen a Majsse/Once There Was a Story (Yiddish Lullaby) 

"Ich hob dich tsifil lib" - Interview with Karsten Troyke

Margeritkelech 

A Retenish - Mystery Song 

Broyges Tants - Dance of the Mothers-in-Law 

Jóvano 

Sholmkovitch 

Avinu Malkenu - Our Father, our King 

Cumajle 

"One line from a violin and you'll already have goose bumps!" - Interview with Katjusha Kozubek

Black Eyes - Otshi tshornije 

New Melodic Ornamentation: Double Notes, Grace Notes, and Trills 

Cacak 

Sherele 

Accompaniment to Sherele 

Minek a szoke ennékem 

Caj Shukarie 

Daitschewo from Odessa 

Bulgar from Odessa 

Accompaniment to Bulgar and Odessa 

Pchurane Roma 

A Small Overview of Rhythms in Klezmer Music

Naftule Brandwein's Forspil and Freylach 

"I love all music that has something to say!" - Interview with Alan Bern

Good Old Sirbas

Terkisher Honik 

Appendix 

Nane Zocha (C-Concert Instruments) 

Nane Zocha (Bb-Concert Instruments) 

Ozhidanje (C-Concert Instruments 

Ozhidanje (Bb-Concert Instruments) 

Sherele (C-Concert Instruments) 

Sherele (Bb-Concert Instruments) 

Bulgar from Odessa (C-Concert Instruments) 

Bulgar from Odessa (Bb-Concert Instruments) 

Sources/Recommended Reading