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Page 20-THE NEWS-August, 1988 iC£| \m'M Favorite Yiddish Songs/Mir Trogn a Gezang. Text and sheet music compiled by Eleanor Gordon Mlotek. In troduction by Theodore Bikel. Adama Books, 306 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018. 1987. 237pages. $19.95, book and audio cassette tape. Reviewed by Diane Cole Nothing can conjure the lost world of European “Yiddish- keit” as poignantly as the distinctive minor-key strains of the Yiddish folk song. In capturing the very sound of another time and place, these songs carry us in imagination to an era that, as time goes by, fewer and fewer are able to remember. Favorite Yiddish Songs, originaUy published in 1972 (by Workmen’s Circle) and re cently reissued in a handsome illustrated volume, is a wel come guide to this evocative musical past. It provides the music, Yiddish lyrics and English translation for over one hundred songs, along with brief historical notes. An ac companying cassette tape also includes a delightful selection of favorites. Playing these songs, the listener is struck by the music’s range and diversity. The songs EU’e a melsmge of many cultures, with hints of Eastern European folk tunes, Chassidic chants, stage dit ties, sentimental popular bal lads of another era, even echoes of Tin Pan Alley jazz. Perhaps that’s no surprise, though, when one considers that the songs collected here include not only “traditional” songs with no known author, but a variety of popular hits from Russia, Europe and the Lower East Side. These songs mirror a culture that was equally rich and eclectic, and Eleanor Gordon Mlotek's introductory notes trace the themes that made up the very fabric of life: Lyrics reveal the conflicts between the “old” world, where the study of Torah is central and marriages eire arremged, and the new world across the ocean, where secular values reign and the Charleston is all the rage. There are songs for all the moods and phases of life-haunting lullabies, anec dotal tales of Yeshivah stu dents, dreamy fantasies of young girls anxious to be brides, celebratory wedding chants, drinking tunes, poetic wonderings about the mean ing of life, sentimental ballads of love gone awry. Through out, the lyrics are filled with a kind of sly wit and humor one associates with Sholom Alei- chem. The accompanying tape con Songs e,EANOR OOnOQNMpTEK MtTflOMCTMW tv TftioMIIS L tains lovely renditions of some of the most popular of these songs, including “Motele,” “Tum-Balalayke,” and “Raisins and Almonds.” Un fortunately, the tape carries no identifying information, not even the names of the songs recorded, so you will recognize these favorites only if you are familiar with them already. Those who don’t know Yiddish — and whose pleasure would be enhanced the most by being able to follow along — wifi have to wait for future printings which, Adama Books prom ises, will include this informa tion. This regrettable lapse is also a disservice to the many admirable performers who for the moment remain anony mous. Nonetheless, this is an ex cellent introduction to the art of the Yiddish song and should whet the appetite for more. In fact, I would suggest as a se quel a reissue of the late Mar tha Schlamme’s wonderful re cordings of Yiddish songs, out of print for too many years now. I hope someone is listen ing. Diane Cole is a writer whose reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Re view, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Jewish Books J uj B in Review is a service ot the IWB tewish Book Council, 15 Uit 26th St.. New York. N.V. fOOfO 6th Annual Singles Weekend sponsored by Temple Israel, Norfolk Cavalier Hotel — Virginia Beach Aug. 25-28 Prices start at $90 (without accommodations) and $195 with accommodations (double occupancy). Need a roommate — we’ll match you up! Single room rates & Thurs. thru Sun. options available upon request Dietary Laws Observed Aug. 10 deadline for room reservations. Call (804) 489-4550 for reservations and additional information Have a Kosher with a variety of Kosher Foods. Maniscm POTATO LATKES ^anischewi^ Mrs.rs NArdSCHEWITZ/KINERET KOSHER FOOD natural Cut Potatoes Chicken Pizza natzo Farfel Garlic Bread Rokeach Tomato Ar Mushroom Sauce liatzo Ball nix Almond Macaroons Coconut Macaroons Beet Borscht Gefilte Fish Wine Mother's All Whitefish OTHER Croyden House Matzo Ball and Soup Mix Croyden House Instant Chicken Soup Carmel Pototo Pancake Mix Joyva Sesame Crunch Rokeach Old Vienna Fish Granny's Fruit Slices on
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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