Raisins and Almonds: A Yiddish Song as a Metaphor of Yiddish Folk Culture in the 21st Century
Raisins and Almonds: A Yiddish Song as a Metaphor of Yiddish Folk Culture in the 21st Century
Author(s): Gila FlamSubject(s): History, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Jewish studies, Music, Special Historiographies:, Jewish Thought and Philosophy, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), History of the Holocaust
Published by: Argonaut
Keywords: Yiddish theatre; Yiddish lullaby; Yiddish folksong; Yiddish songs; Holocaust songs; Abraham Goldfaden; Jewish music;
Summary/Abstract: In this paper, I will try to explain the construction of songs as cultural artefacts possessing an aura that transcends their musical-poetic structure to make them survive as traditional folk-songs in the perplexing contemporary world. I chose the well-known Yiddish lullaby, Rozhinkes mit mandlen (Raisins and Almonds) which was created by Abraham Goldfaden for the first Yiddish Operetta Shulamith. This popular song is based on a Yiddish folk song which was forgotten, and instead the popular theatre song became the folksong. I analysed several published and recorded versions of the song in order to see the song’s place as a metaphor for Yiddish folk culture. I followed the song’s progress for over 100 years and showed how it combines past present and future, reality, myth, beliefs and identities. I conclude with discovery of the song’s melody as an international instrumental piece called Raisins and Almonds.
Journal: Studia Judaica
- Issue Year: 23/2021
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 51-80
- Page Count: 30
- Language: English
