Klezmer was originally played by jewish musicians in Eastern Europe and the Balkans - klezmorim. Similar to the roma-musicians the klezmorim were versatile and skillful and were therefore sought after musicans for weddings, bar mitzvas, funerals etc. The jewish traditional folkmusic were also influenced by the local traditions and the gypsy music. The language used be the jews was jiddish – a language that still lives on.