Gojim - In a schtodt woss schtarbt - Jiddische Lyrik aus dem Wien der 1920er-Jahre

When 20 years ago the German/Austrian music group “Gojim” (Hebrew: goyim: non-jews) gave its first concerts with Yiddish songs there were only few groups performing this type of music – especially those with a more critical position on folk music tradition.

With "In a schtodt woss schtarbt - Yiddish poetry from the 1920ies in Vienna " Gojim present their “Jiddisches Wien Programm” far from the shtetl-romanticism and Klezmer tradition.

Today, even in Vienna, it is still unknown, that for a short period this city used to be one of the most important centers of Yiddish culture worldwide: during the 1920ies in Vienna existed four Yiddish theatres, eight Yiddish silent movies were produced, the first important grammar book on Yiddish language was published in Vienna, … and a circle of Jewish poets yet used the Yiddish language.

“In a schtodt woss schtarbt” invites you to take an unsusual musical walk through Vienna: it shows Vienna during the first Republik seen through the eyes of Yiddish poets, a city with dreams and fears for the future, love of life and morbidity – described by expressionistic poetry. These poems reflect also a highly modern poetic view of immigrants to this city and unfolds surprising parallels to present times.

The gojim have added their own compositions to texts by Melech Chmelnitzki, Mosche Lejb Halpern, Ber Horowitz, Rochl Korn, Mendel Nejgreschl, Dovid Kenigsberg, Melech Rawitsch, Ber Schnaper and Mosche Silburg. The aim is to underline that Yiddish music tradition wasn’t just ment for entertainment but rather must be seen as a living dialogue to current realities of time.

Tracklist:

1. Balade I (words: Ber Horowitz; music: C. Koczan, arr; F. Ruttner) 1:00
2. Memento mori (words: Mosche Lejb Halpern; music: K. Schüler-Springorum) 4:39
3. Nont senen mir ale wunder (words: Dovid Kenigsberg; music: M. Gollini)
4. In Schlojme Hamelechss pardess (words: Ber Horowitz; music: C. Koczan, arr; B. Ziegler) 1:33
5. Un kumt di sun ... (words: S. J. Imber; music: trad., F. Ruttner) 3:21
6. Legende (words: Dovid Kenigsberg; music: c. Koczan; arr. F. Ruttner) 2:34
7. Hunger (words: Ber Schnaper; music: M. Gollini; arr. M. Gollini, K. Schüler-Springorum) 2:58
8. Gewissen (words: Melech Rawitsch; music: F. Ruttner) 5:24
9. Lewune-nacht (words: Ber Horowitz; music: M. Gollini) 2:21
10. Di neschome is a kale (words: Dovid Kenigsberg; music: K. Schüler-Springorum) 1:32
11. Mitog-midkejt (words: Ber Horowitz; music: C. Koczan; arr: F. Ruttner) 3:40
12. Der erschter maj (words: Melech Chmelnitzki; music: trad., F. Ruttner) 2:34
13. Winer ownt (words: Mendel Nejgreschl; music: C. Koczan; arr. F. Ruttner) 2:38
14. Bam altwarger (words: Mendel Nejgreschl; music: C. Koczan; arr. B. Ziegler) 2:04
15. In'm schandhojs (words: Mendel Nejgreschl; music: M. Cizek; arr. F. Ruttner) 5:36
16. Di schtodt (words: Melech Chmelnitzki; music: M. Gollini)
17. "Ouvertüre" (instr.) (music: trad., K. Schüler-Sringorum) 3:34
18. Balade II (words: Ber Horowitz; music: C. Koczan; arr. F. Ruttner) 0:57

Gojim - In a schtoddt woss schtarbt
(256 kbps, cover art included)