Another beautiful Yiddish song proving how Jewish music can be original and heartfelt without copying secular trends.
I was especially moved by the story chosen for this tune... a sacred servant of G-d going to his death for his beliefs. This is a uniquely Jewish concept.
Diss iss a jawk.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Ana Avda - Berele Chagay
Avi/Levi, I dont mean to steal the thunder of the video, but i just came accross this in my playlist; loved it, shared it. Enjoy.
אבי דער זינגער געהייסן האט ער
א פשוטער מערלאט אבער א פיינער שטימע
וואס מער געדרייט ווערט זיסער דעם קול
א שמייכל אויפן פנים און א פינגער אויף דעם קאפ
אוי! וואס א ביסעלע וויין קען טאן
Avi Singing -
וואס מער געדרייט ווערט זיסער דעם קול
א שמייכל אויפן פנים און א פינגער אויף דעם קאפ
אוי! וואס א ביסעלע וויין קען טאן
Avi Singing -
Sunday, May 10, 2009
What's Wrong With Lipa?
Not as much as I once thought. Seems his Lion King parodies float to the top of the pile while he has an extensive discography of actual, um, music. Like in this song, Lipa is a freakintasticly poetic lyricist, mediocrabulous singer and a decencredible arranger. And he's actually realy, really good. Unfortunately, I've already given this what they call "The Avi Treatment" at work and I can no longer bear to listen.
Into your hands I commend my song.
Into your hands I commend my song.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Joseph Schmidt - Ano Avdo
Per the recommendation of Chazzan Netanel (b"r Naftali) Herstik
Josef Schmidt (March 4, 1904 – November 16, 1942) was a tenor and actor. He was born in Davidene (Ukrainian: Davydivka), a small town in the Bukovina province of Austria-Hungary, later Romania and now part of Ukraine.
As a child of musical parents, young Josef was influenced by many cultures. In addition to his native Yiddish, he learned Hebrew and became fluent in Romanian, German, French and English. His first vocal training was as an alto boy in the Czernowitz Synagogue. His talents were quickly recognized and by 1924 he was featured in his first solo recital in Czernowitz singing traditional Jewish songs and arias by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Bizet. Soon he moved to Berlin and took piano and singing lessons from Professor Hermann Weissenborn. He returned to Romania for his military service and became cantor of the Czernowitz synagogue.
In 1929 he went back to Berlin, where Cornelis Bronsgeest, a famous Dutch baritone, engaged him for a radio broadcast as Vasco da Gama in Meyerbeer's L'Africaine. This was the beginning of a successful international career. Owing to his diminutive stature (he was just over 1.5 m) a stage career was impossible, however his voice was extremely well suited for radio. He made many records, first for Ultraphone, then for Odeon/Parlophone, was featured in many radio broadcasts and acted in several movies in both German and English.
Ironically, Josef Schmidt enjoyed his greatest successes during the rise of the German Nazis, who subsequently prohibited Jewish artists and writers from working. In 1937, he toured the United States and performed in the Carnegie Hall together with other prominent singers such as Grace Moore. The Nazis banned him from performing in Germany and Austria, but he was still very much welcome in The Netherlands and Belgium, where he was immensely popular.
In 1939, he visited his mother in Czernowitz for the last time. When the war broke out that year he was caught in France by the German invasion. He attempted to escape to the United States but, unfortunately, this failed. Making a dash for the Swiss border, he was interned in a Swiss refugee camp in Gyrenbad near Zurich in October 1942. He had been already in frail health. Harsh camp life and lack of medical care brought about a fatal heart attack on November 16, 1942. He was only 38 years old.
He had a sweet lyric tenor voice with an easy high register, sailing up even to a high D. His warm timbre was perfectly suited for the melodies of Schubert and Lehár. His popular song recordings were the best-sellers of that age.
Josef Schmidt (March 4, 1904 – November 16, 1942) was a tenor and actor. He was born in Davidene (Ukrainian: Davydivka), a small town in the Bukovina province of Austria-Hungary, later Romania and now part of Ukraine.
As a child of musical parents, young Josef was influenced by many cultures. In addition to his native Yiddish, he learned Hebrew and became fluent in Romanian, German, French and English. His first vocal training was as an alto boy in the Czernowitz Synagogue. His talents were quickly recognized and by 1924 he was featured in his first solo recital in Czernowitz singing traditional Jewish songs and arias by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Bizet. Soon he moved to Berlin and took piano and singing lessons from Professor Hermann Weissenborn. He returned to Romania for his military service and became cantor of the Czernowitz synagogue.
In 1929 he went back to Berlin, where Cornelis Bronsgeest, a famous Dutch baritone, engaged him for a radio broadcast as Vasco da Gama in Meyerbeer's L'Africaine. This was the beginning of a successful international career. Owing to his diminutive stature (he was just over 1.5 m) a stage career was impossible, however his voice was extremely well suited for radio. He made many records, first for Ultraphone, then for Odeon/Parlophone, was featured in many radio broadcasts and acted in several movies in both German and English.
Ironically, Josef Schmidt enjoyed his greatest successes during the rise of the German Nazis, who subsequently prohibited Jewish artists and writers from working. In 1937, he toured the United States and performed in the Carnegie Hall together with other prominent singers such as Grace Moore. The Nazis banned him from performing in Germany and Austria, but he was still very much welcome in The Netherlands and Belgium, where he was immensely popular.
In 1939, he visited his mother in Czernowitz for the last time. When the war broke out that year he was caught in France by the German invasion. He attempted to escape to the United States but, unfortunately, this failed. Making a dash for the Swiss border, he was interned in a Swiss refugee camp in Gyrenbad near Zurich in October 1942. He had been already in frail health. Harsh camp life and lack of medical care brought about a fatal heart attack on November 16, 1942. He was only 38 years old.
He had a sweet lyric tenor voice with an easy high register, sailing up even to a high D. His warm timbre was perfectly suited for the melodies of Schubert and Lehár. His popular song recordings were the best-sellers of that age.
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