I learned this melody from Andy Statman’s mandolin version on the seminal 1979 recording by Statman and Zev Feldman, “Jewish Klezmer Music”. Statman learned it from Martin Kalisky, a Jewish multi-instrumentalist who immigrated to NYC from Bessarabia/Moldova. This song is not of Jewish origin, exemplifying the cross-cultural musical relationships in Europe (along with other countries to the east like Turkey) that led to non-Jewish music crossing into Jewish circles and vice versa. Indeed,
Jewish and Gypsy musicians often
performed music together. Note: the
“hora” in klezmer music (and other
European dance music) is neither related
to nor similar to the “hora” style that is played and danced to in Israel and the U.S.