Klezmer Pioneers: European & American Recordings, 1905-1952
Various Artists
Release Date: Jun 1, 1993
Recording Date: 1905-1952
Label: Rounder
Review [allmusic.com]
A nice collection of very early recordings of klezmer, roughly half from Bucharest and half from New York. These ones cover the span from 1905 to 1952, essentially starting with the advent of the flat-disc format in Eastern Europe (actual cylinder recordings aren't represented here). There's a decent breadth of sound here, ranging from the familiar orchestral sound of New York klezmer bands catering primarily to non-Jewish audiences to the solo tsimbl (hammered dulcimer) of Eastern Europe. The main item to note here is the way that the album catalogs the semi-gradual shift from the importance of the violin as the primary instrument to the reign of the clarinet. There's some beautiful music on this album, but if you're a klezmer fan who's been self-fed the modern klezmer of groups like the Klezmatics and the Klezmonauts, be forewarned that this is a heavily different sound.
Tracks
01 Dem Rebens Tanz [The Rabbi's Dance] Art Shryer's Orchestra 3:14
02 Zapfenstreich Jewish Phantasy [Revery Dream] Art Shryer's Yiddish Orchestra 3:19
Performed by: Art Shryer's Yiddish Orchestra,
03 Fon Der Choope [From the Wedding] Abe Elenkrig's Yidishe Orchestra 3:10
Performed by: Abe Elenkrig's Yidishe Orchestra,
04 A Heimisher Bulgar [A Homey Bulgar] Musiker, Sam And His Orchestra 2:50
Performed by: Musiker, Sam And His Orchestra,
05 Ma Yofus [How Beautiful Is the Light of the Ea] Belf's Rumanian Orchestra 2:41
Performed by: Belf's Rumanian Orchestra,
06 Grichisher Tantz [Greek Dances] Mishka Tsiganoff 3:07
07 Ai Raci Ku Ne Draci [Liebes Tanz] Orchestra Romaneasca 3:40
08 A Dreidele Far Alle (Freilachs) [A Dance for Everyone] Abe Schwartz's Orchestra 3:07
09 Kalle Bezetzns un a Freilachs [The Bridal Serenade and Congratultions] Cherniavsky, Joseph ... 3:11
Performed by: Cherniavsky, Joseph and His Yiddish...
10 Die Chasidim Forren Tsum Rebbin [The Chasidim Visit the Rabbi] Kandel's Orchestra 4:10
11 Doina un Sirba Mihal Viteazul 3:00
12 Ein Kik Af Dir [Foxtrot] Olshanetsky, Alexan ... 3:17
Performed by: Olshanetsky, Alexander und Zein...
13 Tantz-A-Freilachs [Dance a Freilachs] Schwartz, Abe Orchestra 2:28
14 Orientalishe Motive II Josef Solinski 3:05
15 A Laibedika Honga [A Lively Honga] kandel's Orchestra 3:17
16 Odessa [Bulgar] Mishka Ziganoff 3:24
17 Der Heisser [Tarter Dance] Naftule Brandwein's Orchester 3:08
Performed by: Naftule Brandwein's Orchester,
18 Bessarabier Chosid'l [The Hassid from Bessarabia] Isreal J. Hochman's Jewish Orchestra 3:03
Performed by: Isreal J. Hochman's Jewish Orchestra,
19 Doina Joseph Moskowitz 3:08
20 Bessarabian Hora Belf's Rumanian Orchestra 2:39
Performed by: Belf's Rumanian Orchestra,
21 Mit Der Kalle Tanzen [Dancing with the Bride] Art Shryer's Modern Jewish Orchestra 3:09
Performed by: Art Shryer's Modern Jewish Orchestra,
22 Dem Trisker Rebbin's Chosid [The Disciple of the Rabbi from Trisk] Dave Tarras 3:15
23 Erinerung Fun Kishenev [Memories of Kishenev] Abe Katzman's Bessarabian Orchestra 2:55
Performed by: Abe Katzman's Bessarabian Orchestra,
24 Der Fetter Max's Bulgar [Uncle Max's Bulgar] Musiker, Sam And His Orchestra 2:35
Performed by: Musiker, Sam And His Orchestra,
