Shanghai Gears Up for Unheard Yiddish Songs
Asian debut of World War II anti-fascist Yiddish songs scheduled for this month in Shanghai. The city, a historical haven for thousands of Jewish refugees, will host one of the first performances of these rediscovered melodies in East Asia. This initiative, spearheaded by University of Toronto academic Anna Shternshis and musician Psoy Korolenko, imbues the Shanghai performances with a unique resonance, tying the music to the city's own complex past. These concerts, a blend of live music and scholarly discourse, mark only the third Yiddish-language event in mainland China in the past six decades, according to producer Daniel Rosenberg.
Rediscovery and Revival
The collection, known as 'Yiddish Glory', comprises songs from a wartime ghetto in Ukraine. These Yiddish pieces, unheard since World War II, express a spectrum of human emotion: despair, hope, bravery, and defiance. They were initially collected by researchers who, tragically, were later arrested during Stalin's purges, their work confiscated and presumed lost. The songs re-emerged in the 1990s, found in unidentified boxes within the archives of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine. Many of these documents, some typed but most handwritten, were in a fragile state, with melodies sometimes preserved while lyrics existed only as scraps of paper.
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A Project of Global Reach
The 'Yiddish Glory' project has seen broader engagement, including contributions from internationally recognized artists. Canadian jazz vocalist Sophie Milman, a Juno Award winner, and Juno Award-winning trumpeter and composer David Buchbinder are among those involved. Sergei Erdenko, a Russian Roma violinist, also contributes. The project’s world premiere took place on Toronto radio station Classical 96.3FM, with a live concert in their studios. The emphasis on language, particularly Yiddish, was a significant motivator for many participating artists. The endeavor has even garnered industry recognition, with one iteration of the project having received a Grammy nomination.
Historical Context of Soviet Yiddish Songs
The songs themselves represent a significant historical artifact, offering a window into the experiences of Jewish communities during a tumultuous period. Their content varies, drawing from a rich tapestry of influences, including Soviet Civil War songs and even themes from 1970s Soviet television. The material, now preserved and performed, stands as a testament to the resilience of culture and memory against forces of suppression and oblivion.
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