Ottawa Klezmer Band
For your wedding or special event, Ottawa Klezmer Band musicians are available as soloists, duets, trios, quartets, or as the full ensemble.
Whether you are looking for traditional Klezmer music, Jewish and Eastern European musical traditions, instrumental selections, or a lively ensemble for your celebration, the musicians can work with you to create music that complements your event.
Contact: fkatz@icloud.com
M.S.W., B.A., G.C.C.R.
Band Leader & Artistic Director, Ottawa Klezmer Band
Vocalist • Cellist • Pianist
Floralove Katz began studying piano at the age of three and cello at eleven. She continued her musical education at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec in Montreal.
Floralove performed as a cellist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra for nearly three decades. She also sings soprano with opera choruses and the Ottawa Choral Society.
As a vocalist and musician, Floralove performs a diverse repertoire that includes:
Her seasonal and holiday repertoire may include music associated with Robbie Burns Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year's.
Floralove performs annual solo concerts and has appeared on stage and television.
Floralove Katz founded the Ottawa Klezmer Band (OKB) more than 35 years ago.
Collectively, the musicians of the OKB bring more than 150 years of stage and performance experience to the ensemble. The band performs at fundraisers, major events, weddings, and private functions.
Floralove also frequently invites young musicians to perform with the ensemble, providing opportunities to broaden their cultural and musical experience while gaining valuable stage and performance experience alongside seasoned musicians.
Double Bass
Piano • Accordion
Band Leader • Artistic Director • Vocals • Cello • Piano
Website: floraloveweddings.com
Percussion • Marimba • Xylophones
Clarinets • Saxophones
"Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" ("To Me You're Beautiful"): popular Yiddish song: Music: Sholom Secunda; Lyrics: Jacob Jacobs
Featuring Clarinetist David Renaud - Ottawa Klezmer Band: "Lebedik und Freylach" ("Lively and Happy")
Natasha Guiller (Accordion) / OKB: Freylach No. 12 - traditional Klezmer music
"Belz": One of the most popular Yiddish theatre songs expressing longing for a "shtetl" hometown in Eastern Europe. Text: Jacob Jacobs (1892-1972); Music: Alexander Olshanetsky (1892-1946), written for Olshanetsky's play, "The Song of the Ghetto".
Floralove Katz, Vocals / OKB: "Ershter Vals" ("My First Waltz" with you, was my first, greatest joy): Yiddish lyrics: Chaim Towber; Music: Herold Lavrentievich Kittler.
Floralove Katz, Vocals; David Renaud, Clarinet / Ottawa Klezmer Band: "And the Angels Sing" - "Der Shtiller Bulgar" ("The Quiet Bulgar") (Rumanian-Serbian): Lyrics: Johnny Mercer; Music: Ziggy Elman (1938)
"Shtiller, Shtiller" ("Quiet, Quiet"): Lyrics: S. Karczerinsky; Music: Alexander Volkoviski (Tamir) composed at age 11 in the Vilna ghetto. A "lullaby to the “graves” based on the massacre of the Jews of Vilna at Ponary (Ponar).
Vocalists Floralove Katz and Claudia Salguero with the Ottawa Klezmer Band: "Adio Kerido" ("Goodbye Dear Love"): a traditional, ancient, Ladino song. The beautiful theme was later "borrowed" by Verdi for the aria, "Addio Del Passato", sung by Violetta in his opera, "La Traviata".
Vocalists Floralove Katz and Claudia Salguero with the Ottawa Klezmer Band: "Los Bilbilicos" ("The Nightingales Sing"): Sephardic Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) song
Floralove Katz, Vocals; David Renaud , Clarinet / Ottawa Klezmer Band: "Shir LaShalom" ("A Song For Peace"): Lyrics: Yaakov Rotblit: Music: Yair Rosenblum (first performed 1969). An "anthem" expressing yearning, and striving for peace.
Floralove Katz / OKB: "Vu Nemt Men a Bisele Mazel? - Tum Balalaika" ("Where do you Find a Little Luck?"):
Lyrics - Jewish Folk: Music: Benzion Witler (1907–1961); "Tum Balalaika" is a Russian Jewish (Yiddish) folk, and love song. Three riddles are presented: she who answers correctly is invited to marry the young man who poses them.
Floralove Katz, Vocals; David Renaud, Clarient / OKB: "Ikh Vil Es Her n Nokhamol Fun Dir" (“I’d Like to Hear You Say It Again”)
Music: Abraham Ellstein; Lyrics: Jacob Jacobs, Isidore Lillian: from the romantic musical comedy, by William Siegel, “Ich Bin Farlibt”: (“I’m in Love”)(1946).
Floralove Katz, Vocals, David Renaud, Clarinet / Ottawa Klezmer Band: "Farges Mikh Nit" ("Don't Forget Me"): Music: Abraham Ellstein; Lyrics: Jacob Jacobs; My heart pleads: please do not forget me. Though we are separated, our love will keep us close, forever.
“Chiri Bim, Chiri Bom” is a classic, humorous Yiddish folksong.
David Renaud, Clarinet / OKB: "Bei a Gleyzele Mashkhe": traditional, dynamic, Klezmer music.
David Renaud, Clarinet / OKB: "Firn Di Machateynem Aheym" ("Escorting the In-Laws Home"); "Der Heyser Bulgar" ("The Hot Bulgar")
David Renaud, Clarinet; Zac Pulac, Percussion / OKB: Bulgar Frailach
Floralove Katz, Vocals / OKB: "Yossel, Yossel" - "Oh Joseph, Joseph, won't you make your mind up?" is a traditional Yiddish song (1923), by Samuel Steinberg and Nellie Cashman. During WWII, when Sammy Cahn wrote the English lyrics, the song became a huge hit for the Andrews Sisters.
Floralove Katz, Vocals / OKB: "Alle Brider, Alle Shvester": this song is an adaptation of a poem by Morris Winchevsky (1856-1932). In the 1920's, it was the most popular folk song in the "old country" at gatherings of the Bundt. Every singer added an extemporaneous verse. Lyrics: "And we are all brothers, And we are all sisters, and we sing happy songs together!"
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