klezmer

play

noun klez·mer \ ˈklez-mər \

Definition of klezmer

plural klezmorim play \(ˌ)klez-ˈmȯr-əm\

1 :a Jewish instrumentalist especially of traditional eastern European music

2 :the music played by klezmorim

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Recent Examples of klezmer from the Web

In fact, Katz has arranged a traditional klezmer tune for the program, though each of the works features the clarinet prominently.

— sean erwin, miamiherald, "Mozart festival says ‘I do’ to a celebration of marriage," 21 June 2017
The overture communicates the drama of negotiations through the counterpoint of the clarinet with the other instruments, striking a klezmer motif that exits quickly when met with the aggressive staccato passages of the strings and piano.

— sean erwin, miamiherald, "Mozart festival says ‘I do’ to a celebration of marriage," 21 June 2017
Once there, Mr. Tonelli put on some klezmer music and arranged foam boxes filled with frozen bread.

— jason horowitz, New York Times, "Persuading Italians to Hold the Prosciutto and Pass the Pastrami," 13 June 2017
Moods associated with Jewish culture and literature embroidered both the music and the choreography: the music evoked klezmer raucousness and piercing melancholy by turns, and the dancing alternated between ritualized and folk-dance exuberance.

— marcus overton, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Art of Élan, Malashock Dance, New York composers create triangular collaboration in 'Minor Fall/Major Lift'," 2 June 2017
Michael Winograd's acoustic klezmer ensemble will perform music steeped in a swirl of Eastern European Jewish traditions that captures both exuberance and sadness.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Sharon Barshay Music Community Music Festival At Emanuel Synagogue," 24 May 2017
The festival, staffed by nearly 150 volunteers, will also feature live klezmer music, Jewish dancing and children’s games and activities.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jewish fest's head chef cooks from the heart," 5 May 2017
A combination of ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, blues, jazz, all blended with ethnic music and klezmer.

— john orr, The Mercury News, "TheatreWorks celebrates immigrants to America with ‘Rags’," 7 Apr. 2017
Here Weinberg sometimes quotes himself, with a klezmer accent; other passages, like the work’s quietly arresting final moments, glimpse the abyss.

— russell platt, The New Yorker, "A New Recording Makes the Case for the Soviet Composer Mieczysław Weinberg," 1 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'klezmer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of klezmer

Yiddish, from Hebrew kĕlēy zemer musical instruments

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First Known Use: 1908

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