Re: music and words

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

>I would argue that this is not solely a matter of education, and that >this 
>is one case where failing to hear the Jewish musical component is >hearing 
>what the music writer claims to have intended, although, >obviously, there 
>=is= Yiddish folk content, and to ears that understand >(even partly, as is 
>true in my personal case) the words, the music is> >quite moving and quite 
>emotional in ways that won't and can't speak to >someone who doesn't know 
>=any= Yiddish.

>ari


I find this startling and can't imagine it's true, because music speaks to 
us--and (emotionally) moves us precisely in a way that transcends 
language--which is why, surely, all of us (well anyway, this is certainly so 
of me!) can be deeply, deeply moved--to inner tears or joy--by songs sung in 
languages we don't understand.

Three of a zillion possible examples:

"Daragoi Da, Daragoi" (Russian) from the Pennywhistlers (w/ Theodore Bikel), 
A COOL DAY & CROOKED CORN--aching/yearning, for want of better (and, 
precisely, superfluous) words

"Harbstlid" (Yiddish) from ZUMERTEG:  NEW SONGS BY BEYLE 
SCHAECHTER-GOTTESMAN--exquisitely plaintive; breaks your heart

"Ode to Joy" (German) from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony--exuberant and 
ennobling and whatever else you feel


--Robert Cohen

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