Klezmer is joyous Yiddish music with roots in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe and performed at weddings or joyous religious celebrations, and holidays. The first wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants (1870s) brought the music with them to the United States and other places they landed. At first this music was only known in small Jewish circles, but a hundred years later, a new generation of musicians and cultural activists sparked new interest and a revival that continues to thrive today. This class explores how oral history informs researchers and scholars interested in this music. Throughout the semester students will be trained in oral history research, interviewing techniques, and the evaluation of oral evidence. We will also be learning about the history of New York Jewish folklife through music, language, religion and homelife. The final interview for the class will culminate with students creating a final presentation integrating the history, aesthetics and stories co-created during the semester. Interviews will be deposited at the YIVO Archives. This course counts toward the Jewish Culture Minor. [Track C]