Klezmer fiddle: a how-to guide: A How-to Guide: 16 tunes with accompanying chords plus pull-out booklets for second fiddle and cello/bass - Tapa blanda

The world of klezmer music has been opened up for the first time with the release of violinist Ilana Cravitz's Klezmer Fiddle: A How-To Guide (Jewish Telegraph, September 08)

Cravitz's new book is, without doubt, a very valuable addition to the klezmer canon. It goes much further than any previous text in terms of setting out specific klezmer violin techniques as well as practical examples of how to apply them in context . . . Klezmer Fiddle has been meticulously put together with impressive attention to detail . . . The book also comes with an excellent CD that includes recordings of each tune and, rather brilliantly, backing tracks, so that once you're familiar with the music you can play along with your very own klezmer band live in your living room. (Sophie Solomon, The Strad, March 2009)

The best exposition I've come across of Eastern European-style Jewish fiddle playing . . . Highly recommended. (Pete Cooper, FolkRoots Magazine)

This book is really exciting. An in-depth exploration of klezmer music, it gives a CD with historic and modern recordings, and the reader is encouraged to listen and sing along with the tunes at the start of the learning process . . . Ilana provides a series of perfectly delivered lessons, with a fabulous collection of recordings, to facilitate immersion into the music. Klezmer tends to be a minority interest, but if you or your higher grade pupils have even a remote interest in the music, order this book and get stuck in immediately - it's one of the best I've seen. An ideal antedote to course work and exams, and klezmer bands are in great demand! Arco (ESTA) Spring 09

This new book fills a big gap in the klezmer music book spectrum . . . What makes this book special is that Cravitz devotes much more specific attention to teaching the stylistic details that characterize the genre . . . Although this is not primarily a repertoire book, the tunes themselves are nice choices, well worth learning. Each tune has clear sheet music (with bowings, suggested tempo, and chords), detailed explanation of how to approach the piece, and suggestions for how to develop a performance version. (KlezCalifornia website)

This collection of 16 tunes, complete with CD and guidance on style and interpretation, gives you all the tools you need to begin exploring klezmer music - the repertoire of Jewish folk musicians originating in eastern Europe. Each tune is presented with helpful notes on tonality, phrasing and bowing, and ornamentation, which will immerse you in the style and help you to develop skills that can be applied throughout the book.
The CD includes newly recorded (and selected historical) performances of each tune, together with a complete set of backings. Alternatively, accompanying instruments can play along using the chords above the melody line, or use the sekund and bass parts provided in two pull-out booklets. Whether you have some knowledge of the repertoire's distinctive sound and feel or none at all, Klezmer Fiddle is the perfect way to build up a body of fantastic tunes for any occasion.