Yiddish String Ensemble
Solo & Ensemble Playing for Bowed String Instruments

August 1 - 8, 2026; unstructured (free) day: August 4
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 3 – 6 p.m. | intermediate & advanced

with Deborah Strauss & Craig Judelman

The violin holds a very special place in the world of Yiddish culture. For generations, images of the fidl and fidler have been captured in countless paintings, works of literature, and songs, and are often thought to represent the beauty, depth, and expressiveness of Eastern European Yiddish culture in general. 

In this workshop, led by Craig Judelman and Deborah Strauss, we’ll have the rare opportunity to work for an extended period of time on all aspects of Yiddish bowed string playing. We’ll develop our individual Yiddish styles through a deep dive into gesture, phrasing, melodic development, ornamentation, and bowing techniques. We’ll also focus on the art of the fidl-kapelye (string ensemble), striving to cultivate democratic communication, spontaneous dynamics, groove, rhythmic variation, and the “tangly” musical conversation that makes this music so much fun to play in a group. 

We’ll deepen our understanding of cultural context by covering a wide range of repertoire including ceremonial and listening music, dance genres, music from the world of liturgy and prayer, and music from across many decades and geographical areas. And we'll expand our expressive palettes through movement and singing.

Throughout the workshop we’ll learn repertoire both by ear and from transcriptions. We’ll listen closely to early source recordings, and we’ll read and discuss written descriptions of klezmer music and Yiddish culture. Our ultimate goal is to learn to use these sources and resources in the process of developing individual personal expression and musical communication with others.

Please note! This workshop is open to all bowed strings. Plucked strings, tsimbls, and sensitive, other instruments are also welcome at the discretion of YSW and the instructors. To be able to participate you should have at least an intermediate level of playing technique on your instrument as well as knowledge of Yiddish instrumental music.

 

Workshop fee: 
530 € Standard / 425 € Reduced / 740 € Sponsor / 180 € Under 18