‘Klezmer: Music and Community in Twentieth-Century Jewish Philadelphia’

Guests: Hankus Netsky

Folk music defines a community’s values, identity and traditions. That is particularly true for Klezmer music, Jewish folk tunes that have their roots in Eastern Europe. This evocative and distinctive music was brought to the states more than 100 years ago by immigrants, many of whom settled in Philadelphia. HANKUS NETSKY comes from a family of Klezmorim who performed at weddings and funerals in the Philadelphia region. He went on to found the Klezmer Conservatory Band and teaches at the New England Conservatory. He joins us to discuss his new book “ Klezmer: Music and Community in Twentieth-Century Jewish Philadelphia.”