One of the first attempts to trace the archaeology of the concept of Jewish music in relation to the challenges posed by modernity to traditional Judaism and the emergence of the concept of nation among Jews in Europe.
Directed by Kathleen Regan
Documentary about Judy Frankel (1942-2008) an important figure in the preservation and the performance of the Sephardic folksong.
More information can be found at the National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University website.
In honor of May Day, this month's song of the month is a Yiddish song about the political struggles of Jewish socialists, communists, and even anarchists, in Russia and Poland since the ending of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century. The song is actually a combination of two songs, arranged by Zalman Mlotek, musician, conductor, arranger and an authority in Yiddish folk and theater music.
The original German version of the epoch-making monograph by Robert Lachmann (published originally in 1942 in English without musical examples and photographs) on the musical culture of the venerable Jewish community from the Island of Djerba, off the southern coast of Tunisia. Reaching far beyond this specific case, which served Lachmann as a kind of pilot project, the book has become a model that scholars may find applicable to other issues in ethnomusicology.
Contains Niggunim of various genres, and from various Hassidic dynasties, performed either in solo or group singing (choir or congregation), occasionally with instrumental accompaniment. The Niggunim are taken from a variety of calendar and life-cycle events: Shabbat, Festivals, Zemirot, Tish, Wedding, Dance, Devequt, Marches, Waltzes, etc.
Most of the tracks were recorded in Jerusalem and Benei Berak, others in Kefar Habbad, Rehovot, and one in the US.
A collection of life-cycle songs: birth, circumcision, wedding etc., sung in Ladino. All songs were recorded, transcribed and annotated by Susana Weich-Shahak. The CD accompanies a book of the same title, by the above editor (Yuval Music Series, vol. 1, 1989). 1st edition (1989) was published as a cassette.
This entry is part of an online exhibit entitled: "Hava Nagila: From Idelsohn to Belafonte & Beyond," prepared by Eva Heinstein with help from the JMRC staff. To view the exhibit in its entirety click on the link above.
