Chicagoland’s Original Klezmer Band (tm) Since 1983

 

Ensemble M’chaiya (tm)

 

A life-giving pleasure: quality music at reasonable prices

 

Trad Roots and Gypsy Beats
to move your heart and feet

 

Click to hear demonstration recordings

Chicagoland’s first revival Klezmer band plays Klezmer grooves, Yiddish Swing, Sephardic songs, Israeli dance tunes, Big Band songs, and World Music while leading you through easy, fun traditional circle and line dances. Want quiet ceremony music? We play it your way on violin, mandolin, flute, and acoustic guitar!

 

Call for details (847) 864–1022 between 10 AM and 10 PM C.S.T.

Flexible

 

“Your music filled the room with warmth and joy. The musical quality was outstanding and yet did not drown out the conversation and family atmosphere for which we had hoped. I especially want to commend you for how easy it was to work with you. You spent the rime to understand what we wanted ... Your flexibility to improvise in key situations really provided us with quality transitions and a highly successful event ... You’ve got something very special there ... ” — Earon S. Davis

 

Responsive

 

“We enjoyed singing with you and dancing to your music ... M’chaiya is outstanding ... Your responsiveness to our advance requests was a large factor in the success of Aryeh’s party.” — Charles Primas

 

Our best day ever

 

“... thank you so much for helping make our wedding our best day ever! ... I really, really appreciate you making it happen and going with the flow throughout the whole process.” — Jen Kouba

 

Professional

 

“...excellent. Professional, easy to work with and enjoyed by all.” — Lesa Ukman

 

Dancing with your heart and feet

 

In Yiddish, m’chaiya means a “real joy,” a “life giving pleasure” With their infectious energy, the Ensemble M’chaiya ’s lives up to their name’s meaning and they make sure everyone’s feet get moving in the right direction by leading folks through easy, fun line and circle dances, when space permits.

 

The band also brings percussion and encourages the audience to join with the musicians in the music making. Sing-a-longs to favorite songs, like the Yiddish-lyric swing hit Bei Mir Bistu Schein, are a fun option.

 

Unique instrumentation

 

We fit the band’s size to your budget, needs, and interests.

Chicagoland’s first revival Klezmer band shapes its distinctive sound with mandolin, violin, Balkan flute, guitar, and percussion. And that’s just the core trio! Acoustic bass and trombone can be added. Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, French, Turkish (!) and English lyrics, sung in two-part harmonies, complement the instrumental pieces.

 

Download a printable One Sheet Brochure.

When requested, male-only vocals are offered.

 

From a duet up to five pieces, you get the right size band for your interests and budget! When requested, in addition to the band’s diverse Jewish repertoire, Big Band style dance music, acoustic 50s-style rock, early Beatles songs, and various types of World Music can be added to the mix.

 

Klezmer for the world

 

Since January 1983 the Ensemble M’chaiya has pleased audiences in concert, at festivals, schools, universities, synagogues, clubs, corporate events, and private parties. Engagements have included European tours, Chicago’s P.O.C.E.T. Jewish Festival, a special “Thanks to Scandinavia” commemoration program, National Public Radio, as well as opening a concert for Israel’s famous singer, Yehoram Gaon.

 

The Ensemble M’chaiya: ready to be a m’chaiya for you!

 

Sample music

 

HTML5 player

 

  • Der Rebbe Is Gegangen

    Klezmer tune / Quintet

  • Ven Ermoza

    Sephardic song from Turkey / Trio

  • Debka Dror

    Israeli dance tune / Duet.

  • Zhankoye

    Russian Yiddish song / Quartet.

  • Hora Medley

    Medley / Quartet

  • Ich Hob Dich Lieb

    Klezmer tune-Yiddish song medley / Trio

  • Una Matica

    Sephardic love song / Trio.

  • Yo M’enamori D’un Aire

    Sephardic love song / Duet.

  • Ani Maamin

    Song in Hebrew / Duet.

 

Quicktime player

Click on a title below to play the sample of your choice.
Der Rebbe Is Gegangen

Klezmer tune / Quintet.

Ven Ermoza

Sephardic love song from Turkey / Trio.

Debka Dror

Israeli dance tune / Duet.

Zhankoye

Russian Yiddish song / Quartet.

Hora Medley

Hora Medley / Quartet.

Ich Hob Dich Lieb

Klezmer tune - Yiddish song medley / Trio.

Una Matica

Sephardic love song / Trio.

Yo M’enamori D’un Aire

Sephardic love song / Duet.

Ani Maamin

Song in Hebrew played / Duet.

 

Flash player

 

 Audio Demos

 

If there is no flash-player on your computer, you will only see an brown box above. In this case, please use the HTML5 Player or the Quicktime / Windows Media Player. Note: the Quicktime Player plays in a pop-up window.

 

If none of these delivery methods works, please contact us so that we can discuss other options.

 

Image of Ensemble M’chaiya as a trio

“[Their] music is exciting, and listeners will find it hard to keep from leaping up to dance.” — Natalie Wainwright, Arts & Life reviewer, Round Table

 

Image of Mayor Daley’ 2003 Klezmer Day Proclamation honoring Ensemble M’chaiya and Terran Doehrer.

 

Mayor Daley’ 2003 Klezmer Day Proclamation honoring Ensemble M’chaiya and Terran Doehrer.

 

Videos by Earth Star Graphics (tm). Web design, photos, videos, band names, company name, and text © 2013, Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved. Duet photo by Wally Reichert. © 2003 Modal Music, Inc. Trio photo by Betina Distler. © 2012 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Quartet photo by Rumiana Shumanov. © 2009, Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Quintet photo by Jim Godsey. © 2010 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Banner image of dance class © 2012 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. All other photos, unless otherwise indicated, © Modal Music, Inc. Audio sound recordings and Video sound recordings (P) performance rights Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved. “Modal Music, Inc.”, “Modal Music”, “Modal Music Records”, “Modal Music Market”, “Modal Market”, “Fine ethnic entertainment since 1988”, “Quality entertainment since 1988”, “Jutta & the Hi-Dukes”, “Jutta & the Hi-Duke”, “Hi-Dukes”, “Hi-Duke”, “Euro Roots World Music”, “Euro Roots”, “Balkan Gypsy Dixie Klezmer”, “Balkan Beats”, “Meet Your Neighbor’s Folk Music”, “Ethnorobics”, “On The World Beat”, “Ensemble M’chaiya”, “M’chaiya”, “Chicago’s Original Klezmer Band”, “Chicago’s Original Revival Klezmer Band”, “Trad Roots and New Beats to move the heart and feet”, “Trad Roots and Gypsy Beats to move your heart and feet”, “Terran’s Greek Band”, “Greek Music Beyond Boundaries”, “Old style acoustic Greek dance music”, “Nordland Band”, “Nordland”, “Warm music from cool lands to melt your heart”, “Two For Tea”, “Les Beaux Chemins”, “Balkan Rhythm Band”, “The Jazziest Balkan Dance Band Around”, “Razzemetazz”, “Swingin’ Pop From The Past”, “Swingin’ Songs From The Golden Era Of Pop”, “World Hillbilly Swing Band”, “Balkan Barn Dance”, and “Globe Toddlers” are all trademarks of Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved.

 

Terran @ HiDukes dot com / ModalMusic @ juno dot com / Info @ ModalMusic dot com
847 864 1022 from 10 AM to 10 PM C.S.T.
Modal Music, Inc., P.O. Box 6473 Evanston, IL 60204-6473 U.S.A.