JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE - Ashkenazi Music




Ashkenazi Music 'Ashkenazi' (Hebrew for Germany) refers to the Jews who settled in the Rhineland of South West Germany and Northern France from about the third century CE. They developed a distinct culture and spread out eastwards through Central Europe into Slavic lands. Ashkenazi cantorial song reached a very high level of sophistication and ornamentation. The vernacular language was Yiddish, based on medieval German with Slavic and Hebrew words and written in Hebrew script. Yiddish language influenced their popular music. Yiddish language and music travelled with Ashkenazi Jews as they moved to the new world. A musician was called a 'klezmer' and 'klezmer music' and Yiddish song are popular genres taught by JMI today. Klezmer classes @ SOAS 2007/2008 Song school evening classes 2007/2008 2008 KlezFest Music Song and Dance PLUS Ot Azoy To find out about Klezmer, Yiddish song and Yiddish classes in your area, email JMI - info@jmi.org.uk Future dates: 2008 KlezFest: 10 - 15 August Ot Azoy: 17 - 22 August 2009 Ot Azoy: 09 - 14 August KlezFest: 16 - 21 August 2010 Ot Azoy: 08 - 13 August KlezFest: 15 - 20 August last modified: 11 October 2006		Ashkenazi Links Klezmer and Yiddish Events What is Klezmer? Klezmer Classes What is Yiddish? Learn Yiddish The International Forum for Yiddish Culture (IFYC) Publications Other JMI Links Jewish Music Performances Jewish Music Courses


The Jewish Music Institute is an independent Arts organisation based at SOAS, University of London. It is an international focus bringing the ancient yet contemporary musical culture of the Jews to the mainstream British cultural, academic and social life. Its programmes of education, performance and information highlight many aspects of Jewish music throughout the ages and across the globe for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.