Chicago Public Library Jewish Music Archive

A public library collection whose primary donor, Cyril Robinson, has traveled to worldwide Jewish music events since 1997 to record live performances, interview musicians, and gather related material. This archive includes sound recordings, and digital and physical objects. “A special emphasis of the collection is klezmer, a distinct musical genre based on traditional Jewish folk music. Unique recordings of live performances, lectures, and masterclasses from worldwide music festivals and venues provide many examples of contemporary klezmer bands and Jewish musicians. Recorded interviews also document these musicians’ individual oral histories and personal experiences with Jewish music and Jewish life.” All this makes many of these items unique to the study of contemporary American Jewish culture. An online inventory gives the depth of the collection and an alphabetical list of interviews refers to full citations in the inventor.

Visit the website catalogue

You may also like

ERLANGER, CAMILLE (1863-1919)

Of Jewish German and Alsatian origin, Camille Erlanger is one of the opera composers of the "belle époque"

CONCERT LES BUBBEY MAYSE – LE PETIT MATIN DU GRAND SOIR

Watch excerpts from the Bubbey Mayse concert, the opening concert of the 21st edition of the Jazz'N'Klezmer Festival, on November…

CONCERT Kalarash – Klezmer music, Yiddish and French songs

Watch excerpts from the Kalarash - Klezmer music, Yiddish and French songs album release concert, held on March 26, 2023…

The Wolf and the Lamb – Live at the Shakh

This album by klezmer legend Yale Strom and his band Hot Pstromi was recorded in the synagogue of Holesov, Czech…