Space Klezmer

by YID!

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absolutelynotjosh i love a hedonism-monologue from the secondary antagonist of purim because i'm not above admitting akhashverosh's parties were probably pretty fun for him and his buds. s'a mekhaye tsu lebn af der erd, it's a delight to live on the earth! or at least we should make it be. Favorite track: S'a Mekhaye.

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1.	Introduction 01:16	lyrics	buy track
Brukhim habo’im in der alter velt, Vu dibukim in yeder vinkl zenen farshtelt, In undzere gasn, heymer, moykhes – Nisht azoy vi haynt. Vu mir lebn mit moyre far umratsioneyle koykhes – Nisht azoy vi haynt – Un far mentshn vos viln undz farnikhtn – Nisht azoy vi haynt. Vu ale mutshen zikh kedey a voynung tsu derloybn– Nisht azoy vi haynt. Vu undzer farbindung mit undzern over Vert nebekh opgeshvakht Tsulib der tekhnologisher revolutsye – Azoy andersh vi haynt! Welcome, friends, to the Old World, Where spirits conceal themselves in every corner Of our streets, our homes, our minds – Not like today. Where we live in fear of irrational forces – Not like today - And of people who are out to destroy us – Not like today. Where everyone struggles to afford a home – Not like today. Where our connection to our past Is sadly being weakened By the technological revolution – So unlike nowadays!
2.	C Lydian 01:01	lyrics	buy track
Di yidn fun der alter velt, Azoy vi di boksers, Sopen oyf di shtrikn. Umetum un alemol Iz es azoy geven: Zint Bovl, zint Roym, Zint ur-alte Persiye… Khotsh men farshpilt, Gevint men; Khotsh men gevint, Farshpilt men… Azoy iz es, afile in der goldener shtot Fun Colombuses Goldene Medine – NEW YORK…. AMERIKE! The Jews of the old world Like boxers, Are panting on the ropes. Everywhere and forever It has been like this: Since Babylon, since Rome, Since ancient Persia…. Even though you lose, You win; Even though you win, You lose… That’s how it is, even in the golden city Of Columbus’s Golden Land – NEW YORK… AMERICA!
3.	der Boxer 05:58	lyrics	buy track
The Boxer: Translation: Annie Gawenda V1 Kh’bin a yingl oyf di tsores Keyner veyst nisht ver ikh bin Kh’hob farloyrn ale koykhes Far a keshene mit verter Keyner halt nisht vort Alts falsh geven Men farshteyt nor vos men vil farshteyn Men hert dokh nisht di resht Mmm V2 Fun der heym bin ikh avek aleyn Kh’bin a bokher gor geven Kh’hob gekhavert zikh mit fremde In der shtilkeyt fun a vokzal A dershrokener Ayngeleygt, zikh gedreyt in dales hayzer In di gasn gants aleyn Elnt zikh geblondzhet Keyner veyst nisht vu Lay lay lay… V3 Kh’muz fardinen ikh muz esn Ikh zukh arbet kh’veys nisht vos Ober keyner get nisht Bloyz di meydlekh vos shpatsirn Oyf Seventh Avenue Der emes iz Kh’bin geven azoy farloyrn Kh’hob getreyst zikh dort mit zey le le le le le le le V4 Greyt tsu di vinter kleyder Ergets andersh vil ikh zayn Vil ikh forn Vu der New York City vinter Tut mir mer nisht vey Onveyzn mir Dem veg aheym V5 In der vaytns shteyt a boxer Un a fakhman is er gor Oyfn ponim trogt er tseykhns Fun yeder hant vos hot gehakt A zets in ponim im derlangt Shreyt fun kharpe un fun shand Ikh for aheym ikh for aheym Nor der kemfer blaybt nosh shteyn mmmmm Music and English Lyrics: Paul Simon Verse 1: I am just a poor boy Though my story’s seldom told I have squandered my resistance For a pocketful of mumbles Such are promises All lies and jest Still, a man hears what he wants to hear And disregards the rest Mm-mm- Mm-mm-Mm-mm … Verse 2: When I left my home and my family I was no more than a boy In the company of strangers In the quiet of the railway station Running scared Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters Where the ragged people go Looking for the places only they would know Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, la-la-la-la-lay. Verse 3: Asking only workman’s wages I come looking for a job But I get no offers Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue I do declare, there were times When I was so lonesome I took some comfort there La-la-la-la-la-la-la Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, la-la-la-la-lay. Verse 4: Then I’m laying out my winter clothes And wishing I was gone Going home Where the New York City winters aren’t bleeding me Leading me Going home In the clearing stands a boxer And a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders Of every glove that laid him down Or cut him till he cried In his anger and his shame “I am leaving, I am leaving” But the fighter still remains Mm-mm-mm Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay Lay-la-lay, Lay-la-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, la-la-la-la-lay.(x 7)
4.	G Harmonic Minor 1 01:42	lyrics	buy track
In yeder tkufe hot Amolek gepruvt undz fartilikn. Amolek, Amolek! Fargest nisht tsu gedenken tsu fargesn Amolekn! Dos sharft on bay undz, vi a libes-getrank, Der bager tsu zingen, tsu tantsn, tsu esn, tsu trinken Un (azoy vi Akhashverosh in Itsik Mangers “Megile”, A lebn-geblibener, nokhn durkhfal funem Nebekhdikn, farlibtn Fastrigoses pruv im Tsu derhargenen…) Afile zikh tsu erloybn fokhn a bisl mitn shverd! “Uvokhorto bekhayim lemo’on tekhiye vezoreikho” – Ir zolt oysklaybn dos lebn, kedey ir un ayere Nokhvuksn zoln lebn! S’A MEKHAYE! (N.B. Amalek, mentioned in the Bible, is the generic anti-semite, symbol of all those who oppose Judaism). In every age, Amalek has tried to wipe us out. Amalek, Amalek! Do not forget to remember to forget Amalek! This whets, like an aphrodisiac, Our desire to sing, dance, eat, drink And (like King Achashverosh in Itzik Manger’s “Megile”, A survivor of poor, lovesick Fastrigosse’s Failed assassination attempt…) Even to indulge in a little bit of ‘sword play’! “Uvakharta bakhayim lema’an tekhiye vezareikha” (Biblical quote) You shall choose life, so that you and your offspring Will live! IT’S A PLEASURE! S’A MEKHAYE!
5.	S'a Mekhaye 04:35	lyrics	buy track
S’A MEKHAYE 1. Der melekh shtayt in di gatkes baym ofenem fentster un trakht Azoy fil likhtike shtern farmogt di zumer nakht Ay ya yay a yayayayayayayayayaya ay……. S’a mekhaye sa mekhaye Tsu lebn oyf der erd Tsu trinken vayn un tsu huleven Fokhen mit der shverd Ay ay 2. Vos volt geven a shteyger Ven der m’shigener yinger man Volt mikh oyf toyt derharget Oy vos volt gevezn dan ay ay ay ay 3. Ikh volt atsind gelegn Nayn eyln tif in drerd Un volt nisht gezen di shtern Di feygl nisht gehert Ayayayayayayayayayayayayayayyyyyyyyyyyyyy S’a mekhaye a mekhaye Tsu lebn oyf der erd Tsu trinken vayn un tsu huleven Fokhen mit der shverd Ay ay 4. Mayn Ester volt gegangen A yor in troyer gehilt Un efsher nisht oyf teykhef Mit a tsveytn a libe geshpilt ay ay ay ay 5. Tsu mir volt gekumen Vashti S’kotsl kumt mayn man Vos makht epes mayn kanarikl Un ver shpilt oyf mayn fortepyan? Ay yay yay aya ayayayayayayayayaya Verse 1: The king stands in his undies by the open window and thinks “The summer night provides so many radiant stars!” Ay-ya-yay-a-ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ay….. Chorus: It’s a pleasure, it’s a pleasure To live on this earth To drink wine and to make merry To wave the sword around Ay ay Verse 2: What would have happened, for example, If that crazy young man Would have killed me dead, Oy what would have happened then? Ay ay Verse 3: I would soon have been lying Nine cubits deep in the earth And wouldn’t have seen the stars Wouldn’t have heard the birds Ay-ya-yay-a-ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ay….. Chorus: It’s a pleasure, it’s a pleasure To live on this earth To drink wine and to make merry To wave the sword around Ay ay Verse 4: My Esther would have been decked out In mourning clothes for a year And maybe not, maybe she would immediately Have had a love affair with another, Ay ay! Verse 5: Vashti would come to me; “Here comes the cat, my husband How is my canary doing And who’s playing on my piano?” Ay-ya-yay-a-ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ay….. Chorus: It’s a pleasure, it’s a pleasure To live on this earth To drink wine and to make merry To wave the sword around Ay ay
6.	D Mixolydian 01:29	lyrics	buy track
3. INTRO TO SHVARTSE KARSHELEKH (BLACK CHERRIES): Vi azoy hobn di yidn fun der alter velt Zikh opgerufn Oyf ale zayere maternishn? Oyf der oremkeyt, oyfn hunger, Oyfn umyoysher? Mit vilder hispayles, Biz meshugas, teref-hada’as! Oder far di naye politishe bavegungen: - Sotsiyalizm, komunizm, ateyizm, Bundizm, tsiyonizm - Oder far alt-naye religyeze bavegungen: - Kh’sides, banayte mistishe emune In got, inem eybershtn… Meynt nisht, kholile, az alts iz shlekht geven In der alter velt! Di libe iz geven, di libe hot tomid geduldig gevart... Afile on keyn gutn aroyskum Iz di tayere, tsertlekhe libe, Vi ta’am-gan-eydndike, rayfe shvartse karshelekh, Farblibn, greyt tsum raysn… (Although this folksong dates from 1912, the “Black Cherries” chorus can be traced back to the 16th century). How did the Jews of the Old World, Respond to all their exhausting hardships? To poverty, to hunger, To injustice? With wild enthusiasm, (to the point of madness, insanity!) Either for new political movements: - Socialism, Communism, Atheism, Bundism, Zionism - Or for new-old religious movements: -Hassidism, renewed mystical faith In God, in the Lord above… Don’t think, God forbid, that all was bad In the Old World! Love was there, love was always patiently waiting... Even if it didn’t work out, Love, like luscious ripe black cherries tasting of Paradise, Was always around for the picking…
7.	Shvartz Kershelekh 05:35	lyrics	buy track
Shvartse Kershelekh – Di hekhtse libe – Shvartse kershelekh rayst men Un grine lozt men shteyn Sheyne meydelekh nemt men Un miese lozt men geyn Oy vey iz (tsi miyo) tsu mir Un vey tsi (marne pur yu-oh) mayne por yor A libe hob ikh (gefiyot) gefirt Felike (drah fertl yu-oh) dray fertl yor Vos toyg mir di polke mazurka Az tantsn tants ikh zi nit Vos toyg mir dos meydele fun Vurke Az libn, libt zi mikh nit Vos toyg mir der nayer valets Az tantsn tants ikh im nit Vos toyg mir dos meydele fun Shilets Az libn, libt zi mikh nit Di hekhtse libe BLACK CHERRIES Shvartse Kershelekh – Di hekhtse libe – Verse 1: Black cherries are picked And green ones are left alone Pretty girls are taken And ugly ones are let go. Chorus: Oh woe is me, And woe to my quite-a-few years I had a love affair For three-quarters of a year. Verse 2: What use to me is the polka-mazurka If I don’t dance it? What use to me is that girl from Vurka If she doesn’t love me? Chorus: Oh woe is me, And woe to my quite-a-few years I had a love affair For three-quarters of a year. Verse 3: What use to me is the new waltz If I don’t dance it? What use to me is that girl from shilets If she doesn’t love me? Chorus: Oh woe is me, And woe to my quite-a-few years I had a love affair For three-quarters of a year. A love supreme
8.	G Harmonic Minor 2 00:34	lyrics	buy track
S’brent! Briderlekh, s’brent! Oy, undzer orem shtetl nebekh brent! Un ir shteyt un kukt azoy zikh, Mit farleygte hent, Un ir shteyt un kukt azoy zikh - Vi undzer shtetl brent! (Translation of part of verse and chorus of the Yiddish song, written in 1938 by Mordechai Gebirtig (1877-1942), as a response to a pogrom in the Polish town of Przytyk. This song proved to be prophetic of the Holocaust. Gebirtig was shot by the Germans on June 4, 1942). It burns! Brothers, it burns! Our poor shtetl pitifully burns! And you stand there looking on, Hands folded, palms upturned, And you stand there looking on – As our shtetl burns!
9.	Es Brent 01:31		buy track
10.	C Natural Minor 01:47	lyrics	buy track
Azoy vi dos naye, grine geveks un di blumen Shprotsn un tsemern zikh Nokh a vilder vald-sreyfe, Azoy gefint di naye libe Alemol a veg tsu bliyen, Aroys funem ash Fun di shverste, biterste umshtandn… Ven du host oygn vi bay a kuter, Ven du bist shvarts azoy vi a tuter, Ven du bist vild vi indianer, Bist afile a Galitsianer! - Zog ikh dos art mikh nisht… Ven du kumst fun tifster Afrike, Ven du bist feygele, lezbianke oder a “trans”-e, Ven du trogst a burke, a shmurke, A yarmulke, a turbanke, Zog ikh dos art mikh nisht… MAZEL-TOV! Sof-sof lozn zey undz ALEMEN Oyfshteln a khupe oykh do, in Ek Velt! Un yeder eyner hot di rekht oystsushrayen Tsum balibtn, tsum bashertn: BAY MIR BISTU SHEYN! Like new green growth and flowers Burst forth and proliferate After a wild forest fire, So new love finds, Always, a way to bloom, Out of the ashes Of the harshest, bitterest circumstances… (the first five lines below are a translation of the first verse of the original Yiddish song “Bai mir Bistu Sheyn” – “To Me You’re Beautiful” composed in 1932 by Sholom Secunda, with lyrics by Jacob Jacobs, for a Yiddish language comedy musical “I Would If I Could” (“Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lozt Nisht” – literally “You Could Live, But They Don’t Let You”)! If you had eyes like a tomcat, If you were as black as a Tartar, If you were as wild as Indians, Even if you were a Galitsyaner! (Galician Jews were notoriously difficult to put up with) I say, I would not care… If you came from deepest Africa, If you were gay, lesbian or trans, If you wore a burkah, a shmurkah, A Jewish skullcap, a turban, I say, I would not care…. CONGRATULATIONS, MAZEL-TOV! At long last they’re allowing us ALL To put up a wedding-canopy here as well, At the End of the World! And every one of us has the right to shout out To our beloved, to our destined one: TO ME YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL! BAY MIR BISTU SHEYN!
11.	Bei Mir Bistu Shein 03:01	lyrics	buy track
Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some Until I first met you, I was lonesome And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light And this old world seemed new to me You're really swell, I have to admit you Deserve expressions that really fit you And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain All the things that you do to me Bei mir bist du schoen, please let me explain Bei mir bist du schoen means you're grand Bei mir bist du schoen, again I'll explain It means you're the fairest in the land I could say "Bella, bella", even say "Wunderbar" Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schoen So kiss me and say you understand Bei mir bist du schoen, you've heard it all before but let me try to explain Bei mir bist du schoen means that you're grand Bei mir bist du schoen, it's such an old refrain and yet I should explain It means I am begging for your hand
12.	D Harmonic Minor 02:08	lyrics	buy track
In 1941, in New York, hert a khidesh, Dos Kelbl, a lid geshribn oyf yidish, In mitn der tsveyter velt-milkhome, Dos meynt in mitn khurbn, A halber velt avek fun der laydndiker Eyrope, Hot undzer po’et un dramaturg, Kabole-forsher, parapsikholog, Ahren Tseytlin Geshribn a lid vegn a kelbl, oyf a vogn, Oyfn veg tsu der shkhite… Di muzik hot ongeshribn der barimter Sholom Secunda. Der yid, dos kelbl, oyf a vogn, Oyfn veg tsum mark, on farshteyn farvos. Zikh lernen fliyen? Oder a muzikalishe mehume tsu der frayheyt! Afile ven men hot undz mamesh gefirt tsu der shkhite Hot der sheferisher impuls zikh nisht gevaklt. An Andaluzisher opruf: DONA DONA, Azoy vi gezungen in Magreb. In 1941, in New York, listen to this remarkable thing: “The Calf”, a poem written in Yiddish. In the middle of the Second World War, That is, in the middle of the Holocaust, Half a world away from suffering Europe, Our poet and playwright, Kabbalah-researcher, parapsychologist, Aaron Zeitlin, Wrote a song about a calf, on a wagon, On its way to the slaughter… The music was written by the great Sholom Secunda, The Jew, the calf, on a wagon, Bound for market, not understanding why. Learn to fly? Or a musical stampede to freedom! Even as we were led to the slaughter, The creative impulse never wavered. An Andalusian response: “Donna, Donna” as sung in the Magreb.
13.	Dona Dona 06:57	lyrics	buy track
Oyf a vogn ligt a kelbl Ligt gebundn mit a shtrik Hoykh in himl flit a foygl Freyt zikh, dreyt zikh hin un t’srik Lakht der vint in korn Lakht un lakht un lakht Lakht er op a tog a gantsn Mit a halbe nakht…dona dona Shrayt dos kelbl, lakht der poyer Ver zhe heyst dikh zayn a kalb Host gekent dokh zayn a foygl Host gekent dokh zayn a shvalb Lakht der vint…..dona dona Bidne kelber tut men bindn Un men shlogt zey un men shekht Ver s’hot fligl, der ken fliyen iz bay keynem nisht keyn knekht lakht der vint in korn… dona dona…. Music: Sholom Secunda, Yiddish Lyrics: Aaron Zeitlin, English Lyrics: Arthur Kevess and Teddi Schwartz. Verse 1: On a wagon bound for market There’s a calf with a mournful eye High above him there’s a swallow Winging swiftly through the sky Chorus: How the winds are laughing They laugh with all their might Laugh and laugh the whole day through And half the summer night Donna donna donna donna… Verse 2: “Stop complaining”, said the farmer “Who told you a calf to be? Why don’t you have wings to fly with Like the swallow so proud and free?” Chorus. Verse 3: Calves are easily bound and slaughtered Never knowing the reason why But whoever treasures freedom Like the swallow has learned to fly
14.	G Harmonic Minor 3 01:46	lyrics	buy track
Der rebe iz punkt vi a yidishe mame: Zayne kh’sidim, zayne nokhgeyerz Zenen vi mishpokhe, Vi zayne eygene kinderlekh. Ven er zingt, zingen zey; Ven er lakht, lakhn zey; Ven er veynt, veynen zey; Ven er shloft, shlofn zey; Un ven er tantst, tantsn zey! Varfn zey avek zayere tegteglekhe tsores: Der koshmar fun doykhek-parnose, Funem oremen hoyz-gezind, Fun hungerike vayb un kinderlekh - Un farlirn zikh in ekstatishe tantsn… Lekoved dem Rebn Eylimeylekh, Lekoved dem Oybershtn, Platsn zey shiyer fun libe! In vilder hislayves, shrayt oys yedere neshome: Ven mir viln veynen, lakhn mir! Ven mir viln shtarbn, lebn mir! Ven mir viln be’emes Farshteyn dos lebn, Muzn mir oyfhern trakhtn, Oyfhern prubirn un… Kapitulirn! Zikh opgebn tsu der muzik! (A Yiddish version of the English “Old King Cole”. Poem and music by Moshe Nadir (1885-1943) The Rabbi is just like a Jewish mother: His Chassidim, his followers Are like his family, Like his own little children. When he sings, they sing; When he laughs, they laugh; When he weeps, they weep; When he sleeps, they sleep; And when he dances, do they dance! They throw away their daily cares: The nightmare of lack of money, Of poverty-stricken households, Of hungry wife and children - And lose themselves in ecstatic dances… In honour of Rabbi Elimelech, In honour of the Lord above, They almost burst with love! In wild rapture, each soul cries out: “When we want to cry, we laugh! When we want to die, we live! When we truly want To understand life, We must stop thinking, Stop trying, and…. Give ourselves up! Give ourselves up to the music!”
15.	Rebbe Elimelekh 05:53	lyrics	buy track
Az der rebe Elimeylekh Iz gevorn zeyer freylakh, Iz gevorn zeyer freylakh Elimeylekh, Hot er oysgeton di tfiln Un hot ongeton di briln Un geshikt nokh di fidlers di tsvey. Un di fidldike fidlers Hobn fidldik gefidlt, Hobn fidldik gefidlt hobn zey.(x2) Un az der rebe Elimeylekh Iz gevorn nokh mer freylakh, Iz gevorn nokh mer freylekh elimelakh, Hot er opgemakht havdoleh Mitn shames reb Naftole Un geshikt nokh di payklers di tsvey. Un di paykldike payklers Hobn paykldik gepayklt, Hobn paykldik gepayklt hobn zey. (x2) Un az der rebe Elimeylekh Iz gevorn gor shtark freylakh, Iz gevorn gor shtark freylakh Elimeylekh, Hot er oysgeton dem kitl Un hot ongeton dos hitl Un geshikt nokh di tsimblers di tsvey. Un di tsimbldike tsimblers Hobn tsimbldik getsimblt, hobn tsimbldik getsimblt hobn zey Verse 1: And when Rabbi Elimelech Became very happy Became very happy, Elimelech, He took off his tfiln (phylacteries) And put on his spectacles And sent for the two fiddlers. Chorus 1: And the fiddling fiddlers Fiddlingly fiddled Fiddlingly fiddled did they. Verse 2: And when Rabbi Elimelech Became even more happy Became even more happy, Elimelech, He made Havdole (marked the end of the Sabbath) With the shames (synagogue beadle) Naftole And sent for the two drummers. Chorus 2: And the drumming drummers Drummingly drummed Drummingly drummed, did they. Verse 3: And when Rabbi Elimelech Became really strongly happy, Became really strongly happy, Elimelech, He took off his kitl (long white linen Sabbath coat) And put on his hat And sent for the two cimbalom players. CHORUS 3: And the cimbalomistic cimbalomists Cimbalomistically cimballed Cimbalomistically cimballed, did they.
16.	G Harmonic Minor 4 00:43	lyrics	buy track
In vasser un fayer volt zi gelofn far ir kind, Nisht haltn zi tayer, dos iz gevis di greste zind. Oy, vi gliklekh un raykh iz der mentsh vos hot Aza sheyne matone geshenkt fun Got, Vi an altitshke Yidishe Mame, Mame, mame mayn! (Translation of part of Yiddish chorus of original song, copyright 1925, music by Jack Yellen and Lew Pollack, Yiddish words by Jack Yellen). Through water and fire she would run for her child, Not to consider her precious is truly the greatest sin. Oh, how lucky and rich is the person who has Such a lovely present, given by God, As a little old Jewish Mama, Mama, mama mine!
17.	My Yiddishe Mame 01:26		buy track
18.	A Mixolydian 00:54	lyrics	buy track
Nokh ale di dozike oprufn Tsu di lebns-laydn, Kumen mir un zogn zikh op Fun seykhl, Un gebn zikh dem lebns-kheyshek tsu… MAKHN KINDER! Dos veyst yeder khosid vi azoy tsu ton, Oder er geyt oys beysn pruvn! Un take, vi azoy tut men dos……..? OT AZOY!! After all these responses To life’s miseries, We come and renounce The intellect, And dedicate our life-urge to…. MAKING CHILDREN! That, every Hassid knows how to do, Or is happy to die trying! And truly, how does one do this…..? -OT AZOY, JUST LIKE THIS!
19.	Ot Azoi 04:39	lyrics	buy track
Ot azoy, ot azoy, mit dayn modish tallis, Ot azoy, ot azoy, tantst er mit zayn tallis, Ot azoy, ot azoy, tantst mit ayer shviger – Ot azoy, ot azoy, makht a khosn kinder! This is how, this is how, with your stylish prayer shawl, This is how, this is how he dances with his prayer shawl. This is how, this is how, dance with your mother-in-law, This is how, this is how a bridegroom makes children!

about

Many people have asked us “Why YID!? Why such a big band? Why a duck?”
There are no easy answers to these questions, like there are no easy answers to any questions. It is for this very reason that we decided to do something to answer our own hard question “How can we contribute to pushing this amazing culture forwards, to ensure that it will have a life beyond museums and the memories of our grandparents?”
We have tried, and we will let you be the judge, to refashion this great music with the same chutzpah with which it was composed. How these people would have performed folk music in an electronic age.

In S’a Mechaye it is written “The king stands in his undies…”

Yiddish song takes the mundane, imbues it with tremendous depth and pathos, but mainly chutzpadik humour, and creates an atmosphere where the sacred and profane coexist extremely peacefully.
We all contain the sacred and the profane, we all stand in our undies, all of us. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, of an evening, it’s quite pleasant.

Our album, which we truly humbly present to you, is a mix of everything we love about life, for that is the essence of Yiddish culture; despite the furious ideological arguments, Yiddishists have a fierce love of life. A stubborn determination to exist and persist, dance, laugh and cry. But above all to love.

So please accept this offering with tremendous love, we hope you dance and feel all that we did while we were making it. There may be moments that are jarring - life isn’t always easy. Try to keep it in perspective; these moments, as in life, will pass.

To all the people who created this music
To all the people who listen to this music
To all the people who created the culture that created this music

love YID!

credits

released April 5, 2018

Husky Gwenda - vocals, acoustic guitar
Gideon Preiss - piano, keyboard, accordion, vocals
Hettie Zygier - vocals
Alma Zygier - vocals
Syd Zygier - vocals
Tomi Kalinski - spoken word, chorus vocals
Willy Zygier - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, chorus vocals
Adam Starr - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, chorus vocals
Alex Burkoy - violin, chorus vocals
Niko Schauble - drums, chorus vocals
Ariel Valent - percussion, chorus vocals
Simon Starr - electric bass, chorus vocals
Josh Abrahams - synthesizers, chorus vocals
David Haberfeld - beats, programming, samples
Julien Wilson - tenor sax, clarinet, chorus vocals
Tony Hicks - tenor sax, clarinet, chorus vocals
Lachlan Davidson - alto sax, baritone sax, flute
Steve Grant - trumpet, chorus vocals
Reuben Lewis - trumpet, chorus vocals
Paul Williamson - trumpet, chorus vocals
Jordan Murray - trombone, chorus vocals
Ben Gillespie - trombone, chorus vocals
Adam Krongold - chorus vocals
Yohai Cohen - Moroccan percussion

Engineered by Ross Cockle at Eaton’s, Inkerman Road, St. Kilda. 20-21/12/2017
Mixed by Josh Abrahams at s:amplify, St.Kilda Road, St.Kilda 5-16/02/2018
Mastered by Ross Cockle at Sing Sing South, South Yarra 17/02/2018

Produced by Simon Starr with Willy Zygier and Josh Abrahams

Artwork - Sara Starr, Isaiah Starr, Gavriel Starr
Photography - Jackie Starr, David Urbinder

All spoken word written by Tomi Kalinski
All translations by Tomi Kalinski except for Der Boxer, by Annie Gawenda

Der Boxer
(original words and music by Paul Simon, Yiddish translation by Annie Gawenda, arranged by Simon Starr)

S’a Mechaye
(words by Itzik Manger, music by Dov Seltzer, arranged by Adam Starr)

Shvartz Kershelekh
(traditional, arranged by Simon Starr)

Es Brent
(music by Mordecai Gebirtig, arranged by Simon Starr)

Bei Mir Bistu Sheyn
(words by Jacob Jacobs, music by Sholom Secunda, arranged by Willy Zygier)

Dona Dona
(words by Aaron Zeitlin, music by Sholom Secunda, arranged by Simon Starr)

Rebbe Elimelekh
(words and music Moshe Nadir, arranged Adam Starr)

My Yiddishe Mame
(music by Jack Yellen and Lew Pollack, arranged by Simon Starr)

Ot Azoi
(traditional, arranged by Willy Zygier)

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about

YID! Melbourne, Australia

This wild ensemble infuses traditional Yiddish tunes with new takes from across genres, including elements of EDM, Weimar Republic Cabaret, Free Jazz, Indie-pop and Big Band influences.Add late ‘70s funk to drive the bus well over the edge.
Daring Unique Hipsters, grandparents, children, everyone in between; all people find something to dance, cry and laugh to during a YID! performance. ... more

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