Part of a British revival of Yiddish culture,
Hilda Bronstein's collection of Yiddish songs are to some degree what one would expect from a basic troupe performing at cultural and
folk festivals. At the same time, however, the band (led by
Merlin Shepherd) provides a good backing sound ranging from somber to joyous, but
Bronstein herself is the star of the show, with a deep, throaty (almost
Marlene Dietrich-like in some respects) intonation. The Polish dialect of Yiddish doesn't always lend itself to pretty pastoral sounds of course, but it seems that
Bronstein is pushing the envelope even further than needed. Along with
Merlin Shepherd's clarinet, the mix of old and new compositions is probably the key highlight of this recording. A handful of songs hearken back to the great Yiddish poets, a handful are from the theater era and immigration to America, a couple are from the wartime era and the partisan movements, and a couple of newer compositions make their debut as well. The
poetry involved in the lyrics is undeniable and powerful, at times easy and joyous and at times particularly sad (for example
Avrom Sutzkever's old poem "A Vogn Shikh," contrasting the joy of dancing with the truckloads of shoes carted away from Vilna during the Holocaust). The singing is somewhat forgettable, but the music and content are remarkable. ~ Adam Greenberg
