The Yiddish Book Center's

Wexler Oral History Project

A growing collection of in-depth interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds, whose stories about the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture offer a rich and complex chronicle of Jewish identity.

"It's Not Hip To Be Authentically Jewish": Klezmer Trends and Fusion

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Peter Sokolow, a full-time professional musician active in Klezmer revival, discusses his disappointment at what he perceives to be a lack of authenticity among the new wave of Klezmer music, citing the depth and intensity of the genre which has been lost due to fusion with popular genres like hip hop and rock 'n' roll.

This is an excerpt from an oral history with Peter Sokolow.

This excerpt is in English.

Peter Sokolow was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1940.

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This interview is part of the Yiddish and the Arts: musicians, actors, and artists series.

Other video highlights from this oral history

Peter Sokolow, Klezmer Fats

3 min 4 sec

My Father's Piano

1 min 32 sec

"Rumania, Rumania"

4 min 5 sec

Reflecting on a Secular Jewish Upbringing

4 min 59 sec

“I Found Out I Could Play Tunes on That Thing”: The Beginning of A Music Career

3 min 9 sec

What’s a Club Date?: Peter Sokolow Explains

2 min 26 sec

The Beginning of A Catskills Career

2 min 52 sec

Working with Dave Tarras

1 min 40 sec

Mentors in Jewish Music: the Epstein Brothers and Sydney Beckerman

9 min 35 sec

Peter Sokolow Remembers Humorously Bad Gigs

6 min 29 sec

What is Klezmer Revival?

1 min 21 sec

More information about this oral history excerpt

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