Itzhak Perlman: Popular Jewish Melodies.
*Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation* (00:00-01:00)
I.THE JEWISH MOTHER – A Yiddishe Mamme – Traditional (00:00)
This song, whose authors are unknown, originated on the stage of the Yiddish theatre at the time of mass emigration of Jews to the USA in search of a better life. It is a song of yearning for the warm and loving touch that only a mother, particularly a Jewish mother, can provide.
“A Jewish mother — she is dearer than money.”
“A Jewish mother — how sad when she’s so far away..”
II.WHEN THE REBBE ELIMELECH BECOMES SO VERY MERRY (06:49)
As der Rebbe Elimelech is gevoyrn asoi freylach
Music: Anonymous
Moshe (Moishe) Nadir was one of the great Jewish humorists and satirists. Here, with all due respect to the great Rabbi Elimelech, he portrays him as a happy human being, not above the foibles of frolicking with abandon at times of joy.
III.REYZELE (12:44)
Music: Mordechai Gebirtig
A victim of the Holocaust, Mordechai (Mordkhe) Gebirtig created many songs that became very popular throughout the lands of Jewish dispersion. Here a young maiden, wishing to preserve her traditional “purity,” implores her secret lover not to whistle when he comes courting.
IV.AT THE FIREPLACE – Oif’n Pripetchik brennt a feier’l (16:57)
Music: Mark Warshavsky
This song, by a protege of Sholem Aleichem, has become the essence of the Yiddish folksong, and a classic of the genre. It is a perfect paean to the very soul of Jewishness (at least in the East-European tradition), expressing the suffering, the tears, the heroism and the tribulations of endless wandering in the exile, the Diaspora. This is portrayed through a touching picture of children crowded around their Rebbe in a heated room, learning the wonders of the alphabet.
V.DOYNA (21:06)
Music: Romanian Anonymous
This tune originated in Romanian folk song and was adopted by the Jewish Klezmers who traveled around playing at weddings and other festivities. (Similarly, many Jewish melodies found their way to the folksongs of other peoples.) The Doyna has thus become one of the most popular Klezmer melodies.
VI.RAISINS AND ALMONDS – Rozhinkes mit Mandelen (24:50)
Music: Abraham Goldfaden
Originally an aria from Goldfaden’s operetta “Shulamit,” this rapidly became such a hit that it quickly turned into a popular folksong. It is a statement of innocent optimism and faith in the Jewish fate and future.
VII.BY THE WAYSIDE STANDS A TREE – Oif’n Weyg steyt a Boim (30:31)
Music: Anonymous
Itzik Manger was a true folk-poet whose works have rightly become classics of Jewish literature. In the present example a young Jewish lad dreams of turning into a bird, so that he might experience true freedom in all its glory, to nest among the bare branches of a wayside tree, deserted in the wintry storm by all the birds.
VIII.A SONG – A Dudele (36:00)
Music: Reb Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev
Many of Rabbi Yitzhak’s songs have become true folksongs. They are all, like the present one, simple and straightforward expressions of the faith in God the Almighty, and of the great inner joy that may be derived from this faith.
« Oh, mighty God! O mighty God!
I shall sing you a song:
You are in the North, and You are in the South.
You are in the East, and You are in the West! You, You, You, You.. »
IX.WHERE SHALL I GO ? – Vi ahin soil ich Geyn ? (40:55)
Music: Oscar Stock
Though written by two men of the theatre before the Holocaust, this song became very popular during World War Il in the ghettoes and concentration camps. It depicts the profound dilemma of the desperate Jewish People, persecuted everywhere and at a loss as to ’’where one can go’’..
Violin: Itzhak Perlman
Clarinet Solo: Israel Zohar
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor and Arranger : Dov Seltzer
Recorded in 1986-87
Find CMRR’s recordings on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3016eVr
Today’s talents will be tomorrow’s legends. Please Subscribe to our New channel @PAINTED.
Discover and Empower classical music Artists all around the World !
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdFciYWomCnjgKtOT6idXg
Nicolò Paganini – 24 Caprices Op.1, Caprice No.24 + Presentation (Century’s record.: Itzhak Perlman) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iTumyhuJd8&t=598s
Max Bruch – Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor + P° (Century’s recording : Itzhak Perlman / Haitink) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUKZS2QQIm8&list=PL3UZpQL9LIxMwcjTwqgOICaJ59UXwTQ2Z
Traditional Music PLAYLIST (reference recordings) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3UZpQL9LIxM-yBzFbqMAyhq5dNG86WsF