Books about Jewish music

Ryvkin, Vadim, The Butterfly that Stamped: Chamber Opera Based on the Eponymous Tale by Rudyard Kipling, St. Petersburg, 2003, [4], 60 pp. (Russian)

This publication of opera scores by St. Petersburg composer Vadim Ryvkin is intended for children’s and adults’ theatrical and musical ensembles, both amateur and professional. The libretto is by Nikolai Gol.

Klezmer Melodies from the Repertoire of Leonid Sonts and the Simcha Ensemble, St. Petersburg, 2003, [7], III, 46 pp., ill. (Russian and English)

This musical collection includes melodies from the repertoire of the Simcha klezmer ensemble in the Russian city of Kazan, which was headed for 13 years by Leonid Sonts (1945–2001), a violinist, Jewish community leader, and music teacher. The book begins with the introductory article, “A Word about the Violinist” (in Russian) and a collection of photos of Leonid Sonts from the Klezfest St. Petersburg festival.
Jewish Folk Melodies, Collected by Zinovy Kiselgof: Republication of the Collection Prepared by the Jewish Folk Music Society in Petrograd in 1915, St. Petersburg, 2001, [6], 21 pp. (English)

Twenty-four klezmer melodies are included in this publication. The melodies are selected from the unique collection of Yiddish folk songs and instrumental music gathered by the outstanding Jewish folklorist Zinovy Kiselgof (1878–1939).

Jewish Folk Melodies from the Vocal and Klezmer Repertoire: Transcribed from Memory by Isai Zborovsky, St. Petersburg, 2001, [6], 21 pp. (English)

These thirty-five klezmer melodies were transcribed in the 1960s by the amateur collector of Jewish music folklore, Isai Zborovsky, of Moscow.
Yiddish Songs from the Repertoire of Mikhail Epelbaum for Voice and Piano, Compiled by Alexander Frenkel and Evgeny Khazdan, St. Petersburg, 2014, 120 pp., ill. + CD (Russian and Yiddish with English abstracts).

Mikhail Epelbaum (1894–1957), the world-famous performer of Yiddish songs, was extraordinarily popular among Jewish audiences. For a whole generation of Soviet Yiddish singers, Epelbaum was a pioneer and model. Edited and published by the Jewish Community Center of St. Petersburg to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Epelbaum’s birth, this compilation features folk songs from this outstanding singer’s repertoire and original songs written especially for him. Aside from the music, it includes the lyrics in Yiddish, accompanied by Latin transliterations and Russian translations, along with detailed commentaries. The book opens with an extensive biographical sketch. Mikhail Epelbaum recorded only twenty-five of the Yiddish songs from his repertoire. These were released on thirteen different records by US and Soviet labels in the 1920s and 1930s, and they have all been included on the CD supplement to the book.

The Concert Begins...: Jewish Themes in the Songs of Russian Folk Singers, Compiled by Teodor Galperin, St. Petersburg, 2000, 72 pp., ill. (Russian)

The collection includes the music and lyrics of songs by Vladimir Vysotsky, Alexander Galich, Alexander Gorodnitsky and other Russian song-writer-performers.

Concert Pieces for Piano: A Collection by Young Pianist-Composers, St. Petersburg, 2001, [4], 68 pp. (Russian)

The First International Competition for Young Pianist-Composers was organized in September 2000 by the Jewish Community Center of St. Petersburg in cooperation with the St. Petersburg Composers Union and other musical organizations in the city. This publication presents the most interesting piano compositions by participants in the competition.

Yiddish Songs from the Repertoire of Nechama Lifshitsaite, for Voice and Piano, St. Petersburg, 2002, 76 pp., ill. (Russian and Yiddish)

This compilation consists of folk songs and original songs written especially for Nechama Lifshits (Lifshitsaite) in the 1950s and 1960s. The collection, beautifully illustrated and printed, contains both music and texts of all the songs in Yiddish, in Latin transliteration, and Russian translation. It was prepared in honor of the 75th birthday of this famous Yiddish singer.

Ryvkin, Vadim, Hello, Buzya...: A Jewish pastoral, St. Petersburg, 2002, [6], 102 pp. (Russian)

This publication of opera scores by St. Petersburg composer Vadim Ryvkin is intended for children’s and adults’ theatrical and musical ensembles, both amateur and professional. The libretto is by Nikolai Gol.
Ryvkin, Vadim, A Little Violin for Sholom, or Caprice Paganini, St. Petersburg, 2002, [6], 62 pp. (Russian)

This publication of opera scores by St. Petersburg composer Vadim Ryvkin is intended for children’s and adults’ theatrical and musical ensembles, both amateur and professional. The libretto is by Nikolai Gol.

Smorgonskaya, Dina, Esther: Musical, St. Petersburg, 2005, [6], 58 pp. (Russian)

This musical by Israeli composer Dina Smorgonskaya is a new, modern version of the traditional Purimshpil. The libretto is by Nikolai Gol. The publication is designed to expand the repertoire of children’s and adults’ Jewish theatrical and musical ensembles, both amateur and professional.