Hebrew Folk Song Suite No. 4

Description

The first movement (I. Dancing Song) is a Yiddish folksong titled “Bin Ich Mir GegungenFishelechKoyfn” (“| went to the market to buy me some little fish”). This song is a satirical, humorous love song in the form of a “hurdy-gurdy-style” dance.

The second movement (I. A Pious Song) is derived from a melody by the Polish Jewish composer of liturgical music Max Helfman (1901-1963). It is simple and direct, yet musically challenging, and is in the form of a hymn. This was a popular work 75 to 80 years. ago and was often sung in Synagogue services.
The text reflects the greatness of God.

The third movement uses two different sources for its material. The introduction is the Hebrew folksong “ShiruLanu” and is a song sung for TishahB’av (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av). It mourns the destruction of the First Temple in the year 586 BCE by the Babylonians, and of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE by the Romans (both temples were destroyed on the same day).

The second melody is from the Yiddish folksong “Ale MentshenTantzendik” (“Folks are at their dancingest”).
The words describe poor Moyshe who is crying before he is to be married.

Published by: RBC Publications