Re: Very first klezmer recordings

[Sam Weiss <samweiss...>]

Received the following fom Kurt Bjorling: Michal
> ...I don't know whether anyone knows exct
> dates, etc...
> It's pretty sure that some of the recordings of solo violin-or-flute w/
> tsimbl are older than the Belf Orch. recordings.
> This question could easily open up the debate about what is and isn't
> klezmer music.  On my scorecard, the Viteatso recording(s) do(es) not
> qualify.  It is music that bears a relationship to klezmer music, but I
> don't know of anything specificlly Jewish about the musicians or the
> repertoire.  (I'm also reluctant to have such poor music recognized as a
> 'first' or anything else so significant.
> 
> However, my bets would be on:
> 1. A. Greeberg, accordion: "Broyges Tants" - issued in 1906 on United Hebrew
> Disc and Cylinder #1248
> 2. H. Steiner's "Mizmor Shir Khanike" or,
> 3. Leon Ahl's "Kol Nidrey"
> 
> UNLESS - if one counts badkhones as klezmer music, then I think the clear
> winner is:
> Frank Seiden's "Schmendrick's Besingen" (A kale bazetsn/bazingen/baveynens)
> - issued as a disk (898-1) and as a cylinder (26512) by Columbia in 1901
> 
> If that is considered too theatrical, then there is the much more sober
> "Kolle Besingen" recorded by the same "Badkhn Seiden" for Columbia (E379 /
> 906) (date unknown) or his "Chusen Kalle Besingen" issued on American 030754
> in 1905.
> 
> Kurt B


_____________________________________________________________
Cantor Sam Weiss === Jewish Community Center of Paramus, NJ


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