Re: more on Nigun Atik

[H. Kaufman <hkaufman...>]

If my memory serves me correctly, we were doing Nigun (or Zemer) Atik at
the Machon L'madrichay Chutz La'aretz in Jerusalem late in 1959. We were
doing all the latest dances (e.g. Debka Uria -- Ha'abir) as well as all
the old dances. I also seem to recall doing Nigun Atik as a combined
circle-couple dance from the time I started doing it or not long
thereafter.  Circle-couple dances were not that uncommon for a period of
time (e.g., Bat Tzurim, Le'or Chiyuchech, Kalu Raglayim, Adama Adamati
just to name a few off the top of my head) and were danced that way from
the start, as far as I know. Since I am now in Israel, I can check further
into the origins of Nigun Atik. 

Haim
Rikuday Dor Rishon
New York City

On Sun, 8 Jul 2001, Helen Winkler wrote:

> Just found some more info on Nigun Atik in the 2000 Folk Dance Problem
> Solver produced by the Society of Folk dance Historians which has
> different information than what I posted earlier, but these sources are
> better documented.  According to this source Rivka Sturman wanted to
> create a simple couples dance and worked with the Composer Amitai
> Ne'eman and then the lyricist Mikha'el Kashtan, in 1958, to create the
> music/song and dance.  According to this source, the couples version was
> published in 1962 in Rivka Sturman's book.  The non-couples version
> evolved later (1982 they say) and was a combination of steps from Rivka
> Sturman and Miriam Lidster. However I know I learned the non-partner
> circle dance some time in the 1970s so when the change really happened,
> I don't know. You can obtain a copy of the Folkdance Problem Solver from
> SOFDH (at) juno(dot)com which has a detailed description of the history of the
> dance and also the sheet music for it.  Helen
> 
> 

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