Resource Recordings for Klezmer Music
Historic recordings from old phonograph disks
Produced by Kurt Bjorling
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PRODUCT LIST - revised December 14, 2005
• *NEW* - Naftule Brandwein, volume 2 (supplement to Rounder CD 1127)
60 minutes - $10
“Volume 2” is perhaps a little bit misplaced here - I do not have a Volume 1. But there is an excellent CD available from Rounder Records, produced by Henry Sapoznik. This cassette supplements the contents of that CD and together they comprise almost the entire solo output of Naftule Brandwein. (Two more Brandwein pieces appear on the Wergo CD “Oytsres” produced by Joel Rubin.)
Although the Rounder CD contains a large number of Brandwein’s recordings, expertly transferred from good-quality disks, this ‘Volume 2’ contains what I think of as some of his very best recordings: two doinas, a superb rubato prelude and origianl ‘bulgar’ melody on “Lebedik Naftule,” two very revealing alternate ‘takes’ of pieces on the Rounder CD, and the masterpiece “Der Yidisher Soldot in di Trentshes”; one of the most expressive melodies in the klezmer repertoire.
(The previous edition, “Naftule Brandwein, 1922-23” has been discontinued and replaced by this new edition.)
• *NEW* - Abe Elenkrig’s Orchestra - Complete Recordings
60 minutes - $10
I have been wanting to get these recordings issued for a long time. It’s difficult to describe what makes them so special. Several connoisseurs consider these to be among the great neglected treasures of klezmer music. Many of the tunes are quite simple, but the texture and style of this ensemble give each of them a complex, dark, intense quality.
These 19 pieces comprise the entire recorded output under Elenkrig’s name.
Four of the pieces from this set are on Jewish Orchestras, vol. 1. That edition will probably be revised or replaced soon.
• Jewish Violinists, vol. 1 - Edition 2, March 2003 - Details
60 minutes - $10
• Jewish Violinists, vol. 2 - Edition 2, April 2003 - Details
60 minutes - $10
All but two tracks on these tapes are violin solos accompanied by either tsimbl or piano. These two tapes cover nearly every known recording in that genre.
• Early Dave Tarras and Shloimke Beckerman
Two of the finest klezmer clarinet virtuosos.
The 12 recordings of Dave Tarras (from 1925-28, his earliest recordings as soloist) are remarkable - very different from his more ‘Americanized’ style and repertoire of the 40’s and later!
90 minutes - $15
• Belf's Romanian Orchestra, vol. 1 - Edition 2, May 2003
60 minutes - $10
• Belf's Romanian Orchestra, vol. 2 - Edition 2, May 2003
60 minutes - $10
This set has been completely revised and expanded. ALL of the tracks are from new and much better transfers from original disks. This collection was formerly on one 90-minute cassette and it now is on two 60-minute cassettes. The new edition includes 11 entirely new tracks. Details
• Max Yankowitz and Josef Moskowitz
Max Yankowitz’s complete recordings: accordion solos with tsimbl or piano, 12 sides
Josef Moskowitz (cymbalom solos with piano - his complete 1954 LP recording and 5 sides from 78rpm disks)
90 minutes - $15
• Jewish Orchestras, vol 1
One side contains 7 recordings by Lieut. Jos. Frankel’s orchestra plus two unusual recordings by him of a clarinet and accordion duo. The other side has four tracks by Abe Elenkrig’s Orchestra from 1913 and 1915 and several more recordings (1916-17) by anonynmous Jewish and ‘Romanian’ orchestras which I believe are actually the Abe Elenkrig Orchestra.
60 minutes - $10
• Jewish Orchestras, vol 2
6 sides by the ‘State Ensemble of Jewish Folk Music of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.’ Two sides by S. Young's Orchestra (apparently the only recordings made by this band) and 11 interesting sides by the Abe Schwartz Orchestra all or most of which are NOT reissued on any other source.
60 minutes - $10
• ‘Jewish Doinas’ - book-and-cassette study resource.
Detailed transcriptions of seven vintage Doina recordings with a cassette containing the source recordings of the transcriptions plus 9 more tracks of related musical material. Itzhak Perlman has performed and recorded two of these pieces using the transcriptions from this book! book and tape set: $30
X Naftule Brandwein 1922-23 - discontinued - see new edition of Naftule Brandwein, above.
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