My name is Doug Leblang and it is my great pleasure to be performing for you today.

Klezmer is a Hebrew word that comes from two words: "kle," which means vessel, and zmer from the word "zmeros," which means song. It refers to either the musician or the instrument making the music. The tradition started long ago but familiar klezmer music started about one hundred years ago when Jewish shtetyl musicians entertained their brethren with music made with whatever instruments were available: the gypsy accordion, the marching band clarinet and the violin. Jewish people especially loved the clarinet because they thought it sounded like the human voice. You could laugh or cry with the clarinet evoking sadness or joy.

When people heard this music they began to clap, sing, and dance, and soon they invited the klezmers to play for their weddings and bar mitzvahs. When the Jewish people reached America, the music was influenced by Benny Goodman, who was a klezmer before becoming the most popular musician in the US, eventually being proclaimed the "King of Swing."

Please join me on my musical journey as we return to Eastern Europe and then follow Jewish music as it travels around the world.

Thank you and Tzi Gezunt !