Dreydlekh
Encyclopedia
Dreydlekh or "spins" are musical ornaments of klezmer
music, particularly violin
, used to produce its characteristic "tear in the voice" sound.
The main dreydlekh are glitshn (glissando
s), krekhtsn ("sobs", "wails"), kneytshn ("wrinkles"), tshoks (a kind of bent note
s of cackle-like sound), and flageolet
s.
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
music, particularly violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, used to produce its characteristic "tear in the voice" sound.
The main dreydlekh are glitshn (glissando
Glissando
In music, a glissando is a glide from one pitch to another. It is an Italianized musical term derived from the French glisser, to glide. In some contexts it is distinguished from the continuous portamento...
s), krekhtsn ("sobs", "wails"), kneytshn ("wrinkles"), tshoks (a kind of bent note
Bent note
A bent note is a musical note that is varied in pitch. With unfretted strings or other continuous-pitch instruments such as the trombone, or with the human voice, such variation is more properly described in terms of intonation...
s of cackle-like sound), and flageolet
Flageolet
The flageolet is a woodwind musical instrument and a member of the fipple flute family. Its invention is ascribed to the 16th century Sieur Juvigny in 1581. There are two basic forms of the instrument: the French, having four finger holes on the front and two thumb holes on the back; and the...
s.