#beynish

"Eastern European Yiddish folk song...is the youngest offspring of Jewish *folk* music and one of the richest stores of popular music in modern times. Varied in topical content, intimate in its use of the Yiddish vernacular, it reflects vividly the life of a community of many millions over a period of many generations. In the songs, we catch the manner of speech and phrase, the wit and humor, the dreams and aspirations, the nonsense, jollity, the pathos and struggle of an entire people. These are the songs which served the needs, moods, creative impulses, and purposes of a particular environment at particular periods in the history of the largest Jewish community in modern times." — Ruth Rubin (1 September 1906 – 10 June 2000), "Voices of a People: The Story of Jewish Folksong," illustration by #Beynish