brief review of World of Our Mothers

[Judy Fertig <fertig...>]

Ari Davidow asked me provide a brief review of this album.

World of Our Mothers: A Woman's Life in Yiddish Song and Poetry
Ilana Kochinska, soprano, Zalman Mlotek, piano

Taped as a live perfomance, this CD immediately draws the listener into the
concert setting as the ambiant noise from the concert hall is heard on the
CD. I was unfamiliar with the artist, but as soon as I heard the voice it
immediately reminded me of someone else. Who did she sound like? Then it
hit me: Ilana Kochinska's voice reminded me of Elly Ameling. I retrieved my
Ameling recording of German lieder and listened to the voices back to back.
Ms. Ameling's voice is a bit stronger and smoother, using less vibrato--
but the textures and tones of these trained voices were similar, (a least
to my ear from the context of the recordings at hand.) So my first reaction
was that I was favorably impressed with the quality of the voice. My
personal taste calls for less vibrato than Ms. Kochinska provides, but as I
listened to the recording, and then listened several more times, Ms.
Kochinska and her delightful interpretations and style won me over.

Ms. Kochinska is ably assisted on this recording by Zalman Mlotek, who
provides an outstanding example of correct art song accompaniment. His
arrangements help convey the Jewish meanings and mood of each selection.
The piano serves as a full partner in the music, but does not overpower the
singer. These arrangements follow a long tradition of vocal/piano
arrangements of Yiddish music. 

Some today might find this tradition, this mode of presentation, too
formal, too "high brow".  This style is not foot stamping or
get-up-and-dance; it's not the wild improv of klez or unusual textures
through instrumentation of world music. It comes from the European art song
tradition as much as from the Jewish.  It's the blend that's so
fascinating. It's definitely NOT German lieder. It's Yiddish. Yiddish and
distinctly Yiddish not only in language, but musically. It's controlled and
quiet. Nostalgic. Humourous. Warm. Intimate. The interesting phenomena of
these arrangements is that while the level of artistry is high, the
feelings conveyed remain close and familiar, warm and rounded, not sharp or
distant. In short, the Jewish neshama (soul) is present in every selection.

The CD provides texts of all the songs. It works as a concert program
arranged according to the themes of the "world of our mothers" --or more
precisely, the world of home and hearth of a vanished time and community.
Ms. Kochinska helps bring it back to life.

I will ask Ari to post more details at his Klez shack website.