Music in Jewish cultures is classified as one of three “streams”: Ashkenazi, Mizrhai, and Sephardi. The distinction between each classification typically originates with the geographical origin of the music, as music developed differently in each area. Klezmer, the type of music in the provided video, is included in the Ashkenazi, or Western Stream, and is considered secular. Music in the Jewish culture generally has three functions: religious, celebratory, and art/entertainment. (Denburg, Moshe). Regarding the celebratory function, music is used at weddings, bar-mitzvahs, and anniversaries. This is most often where Klezmer is performed. Regarding the religious function, music is used specifically for worship and the art of the Cantor, which is prayer in the form of singing. In this we see how music is tied directly to the belief system of the Jewish people. Typically, Klezmer is passed down through oral tradition instead of through music notation. While the basic harmonic and melodic structure of a song may stay the same, the song is interpreted differently and varies depending on the musicians performing it (Puls, Greta).
The Jewish community greatly values beauty in music. The joy associated with the celebratory function of music is tied deeply to the identity of the Jewish people, especially displayed through dancing (Pallathur1917). Older individuals may tend to view non-Jewish music as “bad”, but today most non-Jewish music is accepted and appreciated by younger generations, while traditional music is still preserved (Is Listening to Non-Jewish Music OK? (A Non-Halakhic Discussion)).
Music may be performed in religious ceremonies and rituals, or at social events like weddings and bar-mitzvahs. The dress of the musicians can vary depending on the occasion for which it is being played. When music is performed for religious purposed, the musicians may wear more traditional, ceremonial clothing. When used for secular purposed, the dress can range from formal to informal, depending on the event at which the music is being performed. The audience typically dances, claps, and sings along at celebratory events like weddings. For religious uses of music during synagogue services, there is often a kind of “call-and -response” form used, in which the cantor will sing a verse and the audience will repeat it back (Jewish Music).
Today, musicians who perform Jewish music may or may not be formally trained, but traditionally the music was passed down orally and aurally from generation to generation with little “formal” training involved. The composer and performer may be the same, but often traditional songs are passed from one generation to the next, interpreted and performed slightly differently every time it is played. Many traditional Jewish songs have unknown composers, while many modern Klezmer musicians, such as the band Budowitz, are writing new songs today (Budowitz / Mother Tongue). The performers in Jewish music, especially Klezmer, have a great amount of interpretive freedom. Performances are often full of creative spontaneity.
Jewish music has its roots widely spread across the Middle East, from Iran to Israel, to the Western Mediterranean and North Africa. It has spread to Europe, and now, to the Americas. Jewish music is not specifically tied to a single country, as the Jewish people have a history of being “global wanderers”. Throughout the travels of the Jewish people over the millennia, pieces of foreign culture have been incorporated into the Jewish mainstream. For this reason, Jewish music is considered “cross-cultural” (Denburg, Moshe). Technology has played a part in the evolution of Jewish music. As stated in the book “Discovering Jewish Music” by Marsha Bryan Edelman, “The contemporary era, with its technological immediacy and the shrinking of the global village, has created challenges that Jewish musical tradition never faced in previous generations. Moreover, the availability of musical notation and easy recording techniques have made possible the exchange of melodies between unlikely partners–and the near-instant incorporation of these tunes into otherwise “traditional” settings.” (Edelman, Marsha B). There is currently a market for commercial sale of Jewish music.