Klezmer is the traditional music of the Yiddish-speaking Jews of Eastern Europe. A secular music, klezmer was originally played at celebrations and life events by musical troupes that took their melodic and rhythmic inspiration from Jewish cantorial music and nigunim (wordless melodies) as well as Greek, Balkan, Romany, Arabic and Central European musics. 

String-based bands predominated in the nineteenth century; woodwind, brass and percussion were introduced at the turn of the twentieth century, adding a marching band sound. As Klezmorim emigrated to America they incorporated influences from swing, vaudeville, Dixieland, Yiddish theatre, animated films, Latin jazz and dance forms. 

After a period of waning, Klezmer experienced a revival in the late twentieth century during which time music scholars and performers studied the old traditions, paving the way for new Klezmer sounds. Today, Klezmer is burgeoning with the third generation of revival in full swing and diverse festivals, events, courses and innovations happening all around the world.