A few years ago I put together a book called The Klezmer Collection. It contains over 120 detailed transcriptions of klezmer pieces by the greatest players of the genre, concentrating on recordings that preceded World War II. Feedback from klezmer fans has convinced me of the need for simpler versions while still authentic. This book contains 24 pieces culled from The Klezmer Collection. While trying to keep the spirit of the music, I simplified the difficult passages and eliminated the ornamentation. Remember, though, that you must listen to masters of the style to be able to translate the notation symbols into music that sounds like the real thing. I suggest buying at least a couple of the fine reissues of pre-World War II klezmer recordings. I can recommend Klezmer Music (Folklyric 9034), Klezmer Music (Folkways 34021), Klezmer Pioneers (Rounder 1089), Yikhes (Trikont 179), and Klezmer Music (Ellipsis Arts 4090) as fine examples of the “classic” sound. (The latter is an anthology of recent bands.) In keeping with Mel Bay Publications’ wish to distribute a book useable by as many players as possible, each piece is transposed for C, Bb, Eb, and bass clef instruments. In addition the C arrangements are offered in a higher octave for use by flute. Tune titles (and occasional numbers attached to them) refer to their titles in The Klezmer Collection. This is to help you play along with someone who has that book. Since guitars, pianos and basses are the usual accompanists to klezmer, chords can be found in the “C instruments” and “Bass Clef” version of each piece. -Stacy Phillips
