Wedding Songs

Klezmer Wedding Songs

Weddings are big and important events for any culture. When we speak about ethnic weddings this is even more interesting because every culture has its own unique customs and traditions. When it comes to a Jewish wedding we can refer to a lot of food, traditional music and a lot of dancing which is a major feature of a Jewish wedding.




For every wedding, no matter the culture, music is one of the most important ingredients. There couldn’t be any celebration without the significant contribution of music that has the quality of setting the right mood, expressing the deepest feelings and emotions and entertaining people. Jewish music is very diverse and its origins go back to thousands of years ago. Jewish music is available in many styles. The rhythms and sounds of the music vary depending on the origins of their composers. Since Biblical times, for Jewish people, music and dance were considered to be a need of everyday life and a beautifying complement of human existence.

During the 15th century, was developed a type of secular Jewish music played by musicians who were called klezmorim. Klezmer is a musical type of the Ashkenazic Jews from Eastern Europe. Klezmer music was designed in order to facilitate dancing. The Klezmer repertoire consists of dance songs for weddings and other type of celebrations. These songs are typically sung in Yiddish. Klezmer is the Yiddish word for vessels of music.

Klezmer music is unique, easy to recognize and very appreciated by the ethnic insiders and by larger audiences worldwide. It combines expressive melodies with human vocals, completed with laughing and weeping. Usually, a klezmer ensemble includes a fiddle, a bass or cello, a clarinet and a drum and sometimes an accordion. Some of the most famous Klezmer musicians are: Josh Horowitz, Alex Jacobowitz, Sidney Beckerman, Jozsef Balogh, Giora Feidman, Brian Choper and others.

Traditional Klezmer musicians have been influenced by many musical styles, but the Romanian influence seems to be the strongest and most enduring. Speaking about Jewish music, two of the best old Jewish wedding processionals are Hana’ava Babanot and Kol Rino which also means The Sound of Joy. Other popular classic klezmer tunes for weddings recessionals are Lustige Khsidim, Night in the Garden of Eden, Schusters und shnayders and Bessarabian Khosidl.

During the wedding celebration, brides and grooms also have their special Klezmer songs such as: Mi Adir (the groom’s song) and Piha Patcha (the bride’s song). Siman Tov Klezmer, meaning Good Tidings is a famous all-purpose Jewish celebration song.

Other popular Klezmer songs for your Jewish wedding celebration are:
Dodi Li
Ketzad Merakdim
Rabbi`s Klezmer Nigun
Klezmer Chazak
U`Bau Haovdim
Boruch Haba
Kol Haolam Kulo
Hu Yigaal Otanu
Yidden Klezmer
Yerushlayim Shel Zahav

For those of you looking for Klezmer music compilations, here are some recommended CDs:
Best of Yiddish Songs and Klezmer Music by Various Artists
Heart of Klezmer by Ot Azoj Klezmerband
Rhythm & Jews by The Klezmatics
These songs will make a good job on your wedding celebration.

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