Researching Yiddish penny songs (tenement song broadsides of theater and variety show songs, 1895-1925)
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I love this picture of Solomon Smulewitz (also known as Solomon Small), he almost looks cheerful, unlike most of his pictures on his songs.

This was quite a popular Yiddish theater song and several versions are available at the FAU site:

• Here's a 1908 recording by Sobelson
  
• and one by Kalman Juvelier
  
• but I've chosen the 1910 recording as sung by the composer himself: Die Blumenkrentze

AKA Die blumenkrantz. Listen here:


The Yiddish was a little strange to translate but here's my shot at it (the original song sheet is below):


Es iz a khasene, men geyt, men flit. Karetn, mekhutonim feln nit.
Es shpiln muzikantn, oysgeputste frantn, mit di yunge sheyne damen, tantsn zey tsuzamen.
Un der khosn shtralt far glik un freyd, di kale prekhtik shaynt in khupekleyd
Es ringlen zey arum fraynd fun umetum, mit a liblikhn blik, vinsht zey yeder glik.
Dan makht men a parad, khosn kales tsad!

Dan shenkt men zey a blumenkrentsele, un men geyt a rekhtn tentsele
Di blumen rikhn fayn, ober es ken gor zayn? Khosn-kale filn shmerts un payn
Di blumenkrentse nit lang blien zey. Di fraynde eyntsik veys tsu flien zey
Es iz arop der glants shoyn s'iz nokhn tants. Ritlekh iz geblibn fun dem blumenkrants.

Der toyt hot opgeshpilt zayn toytn shpil. Karetn, ekepazhn kumen fil.
A man iz do geshtorbn vos hot guts dervorbn
Mit a nomen a gelerter un a hoykh geherter
Zayn letste ehre gebn kumt men haynt, es hobn zikh farzamlt file fraynd
Zey teyln tsedake gelt, geyn afn feld. S'iz der opsheyd shver, un es falt a trer
Tsu ruekh im gebrakht, al mole im gemakht!

Men lozt baym grub a blumenkrentsele, vayl dos iz zayn letste tentsele
Vi der parad zol zayn, men leygt in der erd arayn, in a yedns herts filt shmerts un payn
Di blumenkrentse nit lang blien zey, di fraynde eyntsik veys tsu flien zey
S'iz arop der glants shoyn s'iz nokhn tants, ritlekh iz geblibn fun dem blumenkrants.


It's a wedding, people are milling about
There's no lack of carriages or inlaws
Musicians are playing. Well dressed dandies,
They're dancing with the pretty young ladies.
And the bridegroom shines from happiness
The bride so pretty in her wedding dress
Friends from everywhere make a circle around them
With a loving glance wishing them every happiness
Then there's a parade, bridegroom and bride's side!

Then they're given a wreath of flowers
And there's a fine dance.
The flowers smell good. But... can it be?
The bridegroom and bride feel sadness and pain
The garland of flowers doesn't bloom long
Happiness only knows how to run away,
The shine is gone, the dance is over,
Only twigs remain from the wreath of flowers.

Death played out its game.
Many carriages and coaches are coming.
A man died here, one who'd done a lot of good.
One who was known as a scholar,
one who was esteemed highly.
People are coming to pay their last respects today.
Many friends have gathered.
They give charity and go to the cemetery.
The separation is so hard, and a tear falls
He's a spirit now, they make an eyl mole for him.

One leaves a garland of flowers by the grave
Because this is his last dance.
So let there be pomp, he lies in the earth,
Everyone's heart feels sadness and pain.
The garland of flowers doesn't bloom long,
Happiness only knows how to fly away.
The shine is gone, the dance is over,
Only twigs remain from the garland of flowers.

Click for a larger view:

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For sheet music and/or performances contact me: jane@mappamundi.com

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Labels: nostalgia, religion