Re: Oy Ir Kleyne Likhtelekh

[Lori Cahan-Simon <l_cahan...>]

I just perused my collection for "O, ir kleyne likhtelekh" and what I 
found were mostly either the melodies attributed as "folksmotiv" or 
"folks melodiye", or Leo Lyov (aka Leo Low).  The folk melody variety 
comes in two flavors, differing slightly in the verse and being 
virtually identical in the chorus.  This is the melody in the Workmen's 
Circle publication, "Yontevdike Teg: Songbook for the Jewish Holidays", 
and is sometimes attributed to Zavel Zilberts.  Can anyone confirm that 
he is the composer?

The majority of the versions I have use the Lyov melody, including one 
from a book from 1910.  

M. Ivker, who was a teacher in the Mexican Jewish day schools where 
Yiddish was taught (and is just now being phased out in favor of Hebrew. 
 A shame, considering the renewal of interest in many other parts of the 
world), composed yet another melody, which sounds a bit like a Russian 
Cafe song.  

The version from the Goldfarb "Jewish Songster" proclaims the music to 
have been composed by Sonia Cheifetz.  She uses the folk melody and 
embellishes B and C sections around it.  I am annoyed that full 
attribution is given her, but this appears to be nothing new with the 
Goldfarb brothers.

As to the lyrics, most versions give only the first two and the last 
verses.  The version at Zemerl has the lyrics mostly correct, but the 
poster has butchered some of the words and spelling.  Furthermore, the 
third verse is not translated at all.

I hope this has been of interest, or helpful to you.

mit frayndshaft,
Lor(looking forward to eating some bread)ele


mashke (at) attbi(dot)com wrote:

>That's odd. It fits the melody I know. I think somebody (Lorele?) wrote in 
>this 
>thread that there were about 5 different melodies. If that is the case I don't 
>know if there is more than one set of words.
>
>Dick Rosenberg
>  
>
>>The discussion of Irving Berlin also segued into one about Chanukah songs, 
>>and "oy ir kleyne Likhtelekh" was mentioned.  I found it at 
>>http://campuscgi.princeton.edu/~klez/zemerl/show.pl?title=O%2c+Ir+Kleyne+Likhtel
>>ekh, 
>>but the words don't seem to fit the melody.  Can anyone help, perhaps with 
>>an alternative source?
>>
>>Fred Blumenthal
>>    
>>
>xd2fabl (at) us(dot)ibm(dot)com
>
>
>
>  
>

-- 
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