אײביק װעלן מיר פֿאַרבינדן אונדזער נעכט מינט הײַנט

[sovay]

So I spent my afternoon with the community chorus of the Boston Workmen's Circle and it now appears I belong to a Yiddish chorus. They're called A Besere Velt—A Better World. I have not sung with a chorus in at least fourteen years and I have not performed professionally in two or three. I had a wonderful time. People said nice things about my voice and my musicianship, which was good for shutting up Tiny Wittgenstein. Songs almost everyone around me knew better than I did included "Hulyet, hulyet, beyze vintn," "Bella ciao," "Tsindt on a likhtl" (a modern Yiddish translation of "Light One Candle"), "Vilne," and Shmerke Kaczerginski's "Yugnt himn." There is a strong partizaner anti-fascist vibe to the current season's repertoire and I am fine with it. We will be performing in December as part of Yiddish New York. There's also some kind of smaller ensemble I have been invited, and plan, to audition into. More details as I gather them. There go my Saturdays. As you may be able to discern from the hours-lingering adrenaline, I am really happy.

Comments

[selkie]

I only ever hear "Hulyet, Hulyet" deeply ironically/curmudgeonly, because of what I otherwise know about Gebirtig. I am intrigued, and also more happiness and more anti-fascism wins.

[sovay]

I only ever hear "Hulyet, Hulyet" deeply ironically/curmudgeonly, because of what I otherwise know about Gebirtig.

Hey, if you people travel around the holidays, you could come up to New York and hear what it sounds like when the collective we which I am just now able to count myself part of performs it. Today was mostly THROW YOURSELF ON THE HAND GRENADE OF SIGHT-READING, INTERPRETATION WILL COME.

(My sight-reading has unsurprisingly deteriorated since 2004, but it has not actually died and right now I feel pretty good about that. My ability to learn anything by ear if I hear it a couple of times has not gone anywhere and served me in good stead.)

I am intrigued, and also more happiness and more anti-fascism wins.

It makes me physically happy to be singing and it makes the rest of me happy to be singing this music. I'm glad to be part of it.

[gwynnega]

How wonderful!

[sovay]

How wonderful!

Thank you! I think it is a good thing for me to be doing and something it feels somewhat important to do.

[umadoshi]

That sounds wonderful!

[sovay]

That sounds wonderful!

It was great!

(Nice icon.)

[thistleingrey]

That sounds awesome. I hope you have fun with it!

[sovay]

That sounds awesome. I hope you have fun with it!

Thank you! So far, so good.

[cmcmck]

I'm always good with an anti fascist vibe.

On that subject, I think I may finally have talked myself into visiting Riga fairly soon.

[sovay]

I'm always good with an anti fascist vibe.

It really never gets old.

On that subject, I think I may finally have talked myself into visiting Riga fairly soon.

Oh, wonderful! I hope it is the connection you hope for.

[strange_complex]

Aw, wonderful! Singing is great and this chorus sound perfect for you. I'll enjoy hearing about how it's all going as you do your rehearsals.

[sovay]

Aw, wonderful! Singing is great and this chorus sound perfect for you. I'll enjoy hearing about how it's all going as you do your rehearsals.

Thank you!

I love that you have an icon of Alessandro Moreschi.

[strange_complex]

I actually have two! I am a big fan, have all his recordings and have fan-girled over him more than is really healthy over the years. You just moved up an extra notch in my estimation (which was already high) for recognising him. :-)

[sovay]

You just moved up an extra notch in my estimation (which was already high) for recognising him.

Hah! Thank you.

You write about him well. It makes sense that you would then be interested in Michael Maniaci, but it was still neat to see his name in your posts; I heard him in the world premiere of Madame White Snake.

[strange_complex]

Ah, awesome! I've only seen him perform live in Keiser's The Fortunes of King Croesus (as per those posts), though I loved that one so much I went to see it twice. I do hope I'll get another opportunity some time.

[tree_and_leaf]

That sounds great! I learned Bella, Ciao with a German Scout group (the German Scouts are basically a bunch of left wing anarchists, and fond of anti-fascist songs).

[sovay]

I learned Bella, Ciao with a German Scout group (the German Scouts are basically a bunch of left wing anarchists, and fond of anti-fascist songs).

I didn't know that about the German Scouts! That's excellent.

[kenjari]

Yay for music, and especially for anti-fascist music and art!

[sovay]

Yay for music, and especially for anti-fascist music and art!

Amen!

[jesse_the_k]

A perfect meeting: they need you and you need them. I hope rehearsals continue to be opportunities to flex musical muscles.

[sovay]

A perfect meeting: they need you and you need them. I hope rehearsals continue to be opportunities to flex musical muscles.

Thank you!

[nineweaving]

Fabulous! A meeting made in heaven.

Nine

[sovay]

Fabulous! A meeting made in heaven.

Thank you.

[asakiyume]

Congratulations! What a happy development!

[sovay]

Congratulations! What a happy development!

Thank you!