Klezmer Vocabulary

A vocal break — on woodwinds, a breath-catch with brief silence; on strings, a bow-articulation analog. Quick upper-neighbor figure followed by a tiny rest.

A four-note figure around the principal pitch: upper, principal, lower, principal — the classic klezmer melodic turn.

The signature klezmer clarinet ornament, produced with the right index finger on the upper side keys. An ultra-short appoggiatura a semitone below.

A pitch inflection: a semitone-below approach with sustain on the main note. Creates an expressive "lean" into the pitch.

A glissando between two pitches — idiomatic on clarinet, violin, and trombone. Common at climactic moments of the doyne.

Rapid trill between two neighboring notes, common on long-held notes in doynes and slow horas.

A deliberately slow, expressive trill — wider than a flatterment, often a whole step. Characteristic of cantorial style applied to instrumental phrasing.

A long note hit on pitch, slightly flatted, and brought back to pitch. Never bent sharp in klezmer practice — only downward.

Connecting two pitches with an upward slide, typical of emotional climaxes in doynes. On clarinet: half-valve technique with gradual finger motion.

The descending counterpart, equally common, often used as the approach to a stock-phrase ending.