One of the most beautiful streams of traditional Yiddish song is the repertoire of unaccompanied love songs. Often embellished by vocal scoops and slides, minute glottals, and cadences that trail off, the form is largely characterized by nuanced expressivity and a compelling intimacy rarely heard in other folk traditions. This class is taught by singer and cultural activist Ethel Raim, leader of the legendary Pennywhistlers ensemble, and for many years Artistic Director of the Balkan Arts Center and Center for Traditional Music and Dance and Yiddish singer Cantor Sarah Myerson of Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn. Raim and Myerson will teach songs from the repertoires of several noted traditional singers, including Lifshe Schaecter-Widman, Harry Ary, and Ita Taub (for examples, see the wonderful
Yiddish Song of the Week blog edited by Itzik Gottesman). For this class, familiarity with Yiddish is encouraged, but not required.
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