Naftule Brandwein

about

Naftule 'Nifty' Brandwein, or Naftuli Brandwine 1884 – 1963 was a Jewish clarinettist and one of the most influential figures in the history of klezmer music. Brandwein was born in Przemyslany, Galicia (now Ukraine), into a family of klezmer musicians, part of the Strettener Hasidic dynasty of Rabbi Yehuda Hirsch Brandwein of Stratyn. His father Peysekhe played violin and was an improvising wedding poet (badkhn); of his thirteen sons, Moyshe played violin, French horn, and valve trombone, Mendel played piano, Leyzer played drums, and Azriel played cornet. Azriel became Naftule's first music teacher, and had a lasting impact on his playing. In 1908 Brandwein emigrated at the age of nineteen to the United States where he quickly became a star of the 78 rpm record era, proclaiming himself the "King of Jewish Music". He was considered to be among the first wave of American klezmer artists, those trained in the Old World, as opposed to the second generation who learned their skills in America. Between 1922 and 1927, he cut twenty-four records, first as a member of Abe Schwartz's orchestra, and then as a solo artist after 1923. Brandwein was known as much for his colourful personality as for his musical talent, often playing with a neon sign, reading "Naftule Brandwein Orchestra", around his neck, and with his back to the audience, to conceal his fingering tricks. He also wore plugged-in Christmas lights as part of his costume on several occasions, which once shorted out when h

top songs

albums

King of the Klezmer Clarinet

The Rough Guide to Klezmer

The Klezmer King

Klezmer: Early Yiddish Instrumental Music 1908-1927

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Yiddish Songs (Traditionals - 1911-1950)

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Yiddish Folk Collection, Vol. 3

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Klezmer! Jewish Music From Old World To Our World

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Yiddish, Hebrew and Klezmer: Anthology of Jewish Music Disc 1

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100 Traditional Yiddish, Hewbrew & Jewish Folk Classics

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The King of the Klezmer Clarinet

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Klezmer Kings

Cantors, Klezmorim And Crooners 1905-1953

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