Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 5.104 September 6, 1995 1) Shprikhvertlekh (Peter Kluehs) 2) Children and the future of Yiddish (Henry Sapoznik) 3) Children and the future of Yiddish (David Baron) 4) Shnirele Perele (Andrew Cassel) 5) Mock-"Yiddish dialect" pop songs (Avi Hoffman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 05 Sep 1995 20:31:00 +0200 From: pete@pko.rhein-main.de Subject: Shprikhvertlekh far shleyme axelrod ikh meyn az me sogt "beser dray teg gezunt eyder eyn tog krank" tsu a krankn vos me vil im treystn mit epes a vits. do bay undz me sogt in azelkhe faln oykhet "di beste krenk toyg far kapore_". agev, ikh hob tsunoyfgeklibn a sakh 'origins' funem fido-net un gib aykh a por eynlekhe bayshpiln: beser vayn in boykh eyder vaser in kop beser a baybak vi makhn gornisht beser a lokh in shtivl eyder nisht keyn fus beser a boykh fun trinkn eyder a hoyker fun horeven peter kluehs wehrheim, germany 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 18:49:29 -0400 From: sapoznik@aol.com Subject: Children and the future of Yiddish [re: Morrie Feller's post, 5.102] Morrie Feller's accurate assesment of the paucity of Yiddish for children is correct. Any critical advancements in this field seem to have ended before the Second World War. Except at KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program sponsored by Living Traditions. For the last 11 years KlezKamp has pioneered age appropriate childhood Yiddish education in areas of music, language, theater, crafts and movement. Our "KlezKids" program is second to none in bringing together the finest and most innovative teachers, performers and adminstrators in this sorely neglected field. The "Oom Chicks", the successful KlezKamp children's music ensemble (ages 3-7) has been copied at Yiddish events around the world, while our newly launched "KlezKamp Youth Orchestra" encourages older children (8-16) who study band or orchestra at school to adapt their school training in the interest of Yiddish music. The long running "Junior Folklorist" program devised by Dr. Barbara Kirshenblatt Gimblett trains youngsters at Kamp to collect oral histories with older European born KlezKamp participants whose life stories are then adapted by teachers Benny Ferdman, Shari Davis and Jenny Romaine into performances by these young sleuths at the conclusion of Kamp. This year's KlezKamp "The Wonders of America: A Century of Yiddish-American Culture" to be held December 24-29 is our 11th and will continue our commitment to the vitality of our unique Yiddish culture simultaneously honoring older folksmentshn while training the young in the precious task of maintaining a much needed continuity. Detailed information about this year's KlezKamp will appear in a forthcoming edition of Mendele. Henry Sapoznik 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 10:37:31 GMT+0200 From: davidb@accent.co.il Subject: Children and the future of Yiddish The only Yiddish I learned as a kid was what my parents used as their "secret code." When I decided to learn more, to be able to read or listen the Lubavitcher Rebbe's (may his merit shield us) talks without translations, it took great effort. I bought a good dictionary and translated Eliezer Schindler's book of poetry (lovely, religiously oriented, using a managable vocabulary set). Yiddish lives in charedi homes where it is the primary spoken language. Here in Israel, once Hebrew replaces it, the chain is broken. Yiddish-for-kinder courses are a limited and remedial step. An incentive (such as cracking parents' secret code) is needed. B'hatzlacha!! David Baron 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 22:09:20 -0400 From: cassel@libertynet.org Subject: Shnirele Perele Song No. 11 in the Ginsberg-Marek collection (St. Petersburg, 1901) appears in the following (German-based) transliteration: Schnirele, Perele, gilderne Fohn, Moschiach ben-Dowid sitzt eiben on; Halt er a Becher in rechten Hand, Macht er a Broche iber die ganze Land. Omein w'omein dos is wohr, Moschiach wet kummen haintigen Johr. Wet er kummen zuraiten, Welen mir hoben gute Zaiten. Wet er kummen zufohren, Welen mir hoben gute Johren. Wet er kummen zugeihn, Welen mir alle in Erez-Jissroel ainsteihn. That version was contributed by "D.G. Galpern" of Vitebsk guberniya. A variant appears as follows: Moschiach ben Dowid sitzt eiben on, In Gold un in Silber ongethon. Er halt a Becher in die rechte Hand, Macht er a Broche iber die ganze Land. Omein w'omein dos is wohr: Die G'ule wet kummen haintigen Johr. Wet sie kummen zuraiten, Welen mir hoben gute Zaiten. Wet sie kummen zufohren, Welen mir hoben gute Johren. Wet sie kummen zugeihn, Welen die Meissim aufsteihn. Mir welen kain erez-Jissroel geihn, Uwo l"Zion Geieil w'neimar omein! That one was collected by Aaron Leib Pick and Boruch Chaim Cassel (mayn zeyde, olevhasholem). For the melody, I'd refer you to the band The Klezmatics, who have a wonderful version on their second recording, "Rhythm & Jews". That'll really put it into your head to stay! Andrew Cassel Elkins Park, PA 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 23:27:55 -0400 From: avih@inch.com Subject: Mock-"Yiddish dialect" pop songs [response to Joel Rubin; Mendele Vol, 5.080] As a performer in the Jewish/Yiddish theater in NYC, I have had the good fortune to come across many songs in the genre that you were talking about in your submission to Mendele. As the lead singer of the Don Byron Klezmer Orchestra, I've spent the last few years traveling around the world singing the music of Mickey Katz (Heym Ofn Range, The Mekhaye War Chant, etc.) But recently I've come across some material that took me completely by surprise. I found a dusty album at a garage sale, with a Jewish Star on it. It said - "The Garden Of Yidn - featuring Eli Basse". I have since learned that Eli Basse was a famous comedy writer, who wrote for the likes of Joe E. Lewis, Red Buttons, Johnny Carson, etc. He specialized in original Yinglish songs like - I'm a Litvak, She's a Galitz, The Oom-Glick Blues, #4 Humentash Lane and many more. They are very original numbers and I have included 2 of his numbers in my Off-Broadway show. I have several of his songs on my computer and would be happy to share them with you. He put out several albums, which I am trying to track down, also I have met his daughter who lives in the NY area and was shocked and excited to hear her father's material in my show. Although some people find these materials insulting and demeaning, I find them to be extremely entertaining, and a fascinating look at a musical- sociological phenomenon. Let me know, if you are interested in the material that I have and zay gezunt. Avi Hoffman ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 5.104