Klezmer tunes for ocarina

A collection of Klezmer tunes with recommendations for ocarinas that they fit on. Many of these tunes work on a C, B flat or G 10 hole ocarina. Some work on a Vicinelli-system B flat double.

I simply took a tune collection used by British klezmorim at the annual "Kleznorth" gathering and worked out which ocarina I would use for each - minimal use of transposition and essentially no melodic changes. I just played what they did at the same pitch. This was using ocarinas I actually had with me.

I did sometimes use other instruments for variety of sound, but the point was that ocarinas can do it all.

Some more Klezmer tunes.

This is the first klezmer tune collection ever published, predating any audio recordings. It was intended for the violin, but most of it fits the 10-hole ocarina. Since this was at the height of the ocarina's popularity, it's a good bet somebody tried.

Klezmer tunes fall into two groups: quick dance tunes that don't require much skill to play, and slow, expressive, highly ornamented pieces that only very experienced (and better paid) players would do. This collection includes both. It follows the usual sequence of an Ashkenazi Jewish wedding, with some non-Jewish pieces included as interludes.

My suggestion for what ocarinas to use:

1. Andante - C 10-hole

2. Zmiros - non-Jewish violin display piece

3. Chosenmoi - D 10-hole

4. Polka - non-Jewish violin tune

5. Quadrille - G 10-hole

6. Kozaczka - violin piece (the Irish-American "Fisher's Hornpipe")

7. Bareges Tanz - G 10-hole

8. Scherele - C 10-hole, an octave down

9. Dobriden - listening piece

10. Zum Badekns - violin piece (maybe doable on a Bb 10-hole an octave down)

11. Kalle Bazetzens (seating of the bride) - violin listening piece and the most solemn moment of the ceremony

12. Zu der chuppe - you could do this with a Bb 10-hole and some clever octave shifts

13. Unter der Chuppe - G 10-hole

14. Von der Chuppe - G 10-hole

15. Mechetonim Zu der Wetczere - C 10-hole an octave down

16. Korohod - Bb 10-hole with a bit of cheating at the low end

17. Gutte Nacht - listening piece, would work on a Bb 10-hole