Re: Bless the Fire

[linda <labo4...>]

on 1/24/04 9:52 PM, Batya at batya_l (at) macam(dot)ac(dot)il wrote:

> Hi!
> 
> Following on the really helpful recommendations of top klezmer cd's, what
> would you say were the very best buys for somebody building up a Yiddish
> song library. Actually, I'm interested in two lists: 1) indispensable
> classic Yiddish cd's, and 2) the best Yiddish songs to come out over the
> last few years.
> 
> Batya
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <HNetsky (at) aol(dot)com>
> To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 5:50 AM
> Subject: Re: Bless the Fire
> 
> 
>> 
>> In a message dated 12/30/03 2:40:24 PM, meydele (at) adelphia(dot)net writes:
>> 
>> << As Eliezer Kaplan reported last week, copies of Brave Old
>> World's recording "Bless the Fire" are now available from
>> CD Baby.  I have finally gotten my hands on a copy and
>> have had the intense pleasure of listening to it repeatedly.
>> 
>> This is an amazing, heart-filling album. Anyone who is
>> interested in New Jewish or Yiddish Music or Jewish
>> Roots Music should have a copy of this recording.
>> Brave Old World takes us on an extraordinary and deeply
>> moving exploration of the Jewish European Diaspora,
>> sounding its emotional and musical depths, giving
>> intricate and layered voice to its intense longing and
>> the profound grace and resonance of the concept of home
>> which sustained our ancestors for so many centuries.
>> 
>> This is a masterful album, exquisite and powerful in its
>> musicianship, profoundly emotional (it moved me to tears
>> in several places on first listening), that bears repeated
>> playing.  I continue to find new delights and musical
>> intricacies on each repeat listening.  A recording
>> of such power demands your full attention (my
>> husband was listening so intently the first time he
>> heard it, he didn't hear the phone when it rang) and
>> rewards that attention amply. You won't be bopping
>> to it in the car as you barrel down the freeway - this
>> recording fills a different niche. This album brings
>> us to a new place in our musical understanding
>> of our Jewish/Ashkenaz heritage.
>> 
>> I strongly recommend it for anyone who wants to
>> actively engage with our musical and historical
>> past in defining and shaping our Jewish present
>> and future, as well as anyone seriously interested
>> in Jewish music and its roots.
>> 
>> So, am I passionate about this recording?
>> Do ya think?  Brave Old World is the group
>> that I find most consistently speaks to where
>> I am in my exploration of my Jewish identity,
>> musically, intellectually and emotionally.  I can't
>> help but be partisan.
>> 
>> This is an album that confounds labels. Roots
>> music?  Klezmer? Classical/jazz/experimental? Buy it
>> and decide for yourself.
>> 
>> Shira Lerner
>> Yiddishkayt Los Angeles
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 10:57:04 -0800
>> To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>> From: Susan Lerner <meydele (at) adelphia(dot)net>
>> Subject: Bless the Fire
>> In-Reply-To: <5(dot)1(dot)0(dot)14(dot)2(dot)20031230104013(dot)01c8c2c8 
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>> 
> 
> 
> 


Batya,

There is such a wide range of Yiddish song.  It might help to "study"
Simon's web site.  I would suggest listening first to "native speakers"- no
matter which genre - in order to get the flavor of the language. Some of the
singers I have enjoyed are Sidor Belarsky for the more formal art song
presentation, the Barry Sisters for a sampling of Yiddish oldies, just about
any performers in the old time Yiddish theatre style, and Chava Alberstein's
Yiddish CDs for more modern songs especially Yiddish poetry set to music.
Also  Yiddish songs by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman and Brave Old World.

Happy listening,

Linda

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