Re: Bertha Kalich & Recordings of the Yiddish Theater

[Sofia V. Shneider <soph...>]

Joshua Horowitz wrote:
> 
> Robert,
> 
> the Spottswood catalogue contains the largest list of ethnic 78's made
> in this country since 1893 (- 1942). So, it's the main reference for
> 78's (8 volumes long). I simply copied the info down for you with no
> thought about *discographic literacy* as I'm a discographic illiterate
> myself. For quoting Spottswood, here is the info:
> 
> Spottswood, Richard K.: Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic
> Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893 to 1942, Volume 3,
> Eastern Europe, University of Illinois Press, Urbana and Chicago, 1990.
> 
> The basic info, from left to right, using one title as the following
> title below....
> 
> B 31261-3 Shulamith: Shabes Jontef In Rischoidesch (A. Goldfaden) Vi rej
> orch d Joseph Pasternack Camden, NJ December 5, 1924
> 
> indicates:
> 
> The matrix number of the disc (B 31261-3) The B meant 7 inch in Victor's
> system.
> 
> title of the disc: Shulamith: Shabes Jontef In Rischoidesch
> Composer (A. Goldfaden)
> label: Vi (Victor)
> catalogue number: this should come next, but in the case of rej. I think
> that means it wasn't catalogued or wasn't released. Henry Sapoznik might
> know, as he helped in the Spottswood publication.
> 
> Orch: The name of the orchestra. In this case of J. Pasternack
> recording place and date: Camden, NJ
> 
> > 4. Does Spottswood list only original issues?.
> 
> Yes. For reissues, I think the main source is called the Schwann
> catalogue.
> 
> I can't answer all your questions, cuz I just don't know all that stuff
> (you can contact my friend Hugo Stroetbaum in Utrecht, Holland, who is
> one of the great discographers on the planet, and always needs help
> himself, so I think it would be a good idea for you both to have contact
> wih each other). A coupla things, though:
> 
> > I've come across the following listing for Kalich:
> > Blue (acous.) Vr 4548t
> > Shulamith: Sabbath, Holiday and the New Moon (Goldfaden) [Yiddish]/
> 
> It sounds to me like you have an actual (possibly later) Victor
> catalogue release number (4548t) of possibly the same recording, but
> possibly a later one. As you know the recordings prior to 1925 were
> mechanical, direct to disc. Therefore each take got a different matrix
> number. I don't know if that means that the disc you have is a later
> RECORDING as the ones in the Spottswood listing are *rejects*. Check the
> matrix number on your disc and see if it matches the one above.
> 
> > 5. Was it common for Yiddish artists to record in both Yiddish and
> > Russian for the same release?
> 
> I have a few Russian recordings from the 30's which have Russian and
> Yiddish in the same SONG, alternating strophes. Non-Jews liked Jewish
> tunes too. That's all I know. Hope it helps... Josh
> 
"Adresovannaya drugu, hodit pesenka po krugu, potomu chto kruglaya
zemlya..."
(popular Russian song; in English - a song which dedicated to friend is
going around the world because the earth is round)

Sophia
Russia

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