Hi, all

I’m running out of oxygen here in the Sound Archives (on Fridays they turn off the ventilation mid-afternoon) so I gotta be fast before I pass out.

I thought I might post a couple of seasonal things for our listening pleasure.

First, a heartfelt B’rosh Hashonoh (New Year’s Prayer) from Cantor Joseph Shapiro (1890-1938) with Machtenburg’s Choir, recorded for Victor in New York City in July 1929, one of only four issued sides by this great singer.

Cantor Joseph Shapiro

(This performance was also reissued on the Yazoo cd Mysteries of the Sabbath).

Here’s a beautiful art song based on the theme of Kol Nidre. The piece is called, appropriately enough, Yom Kippur, words and music by H.B. Silberstein and Rhea Silberta.

This from a 1922 Brunswick recording by the soprano Dorothy Jardon, a singer unknown to me until now. She’s included on the cd-rom of classical Jewish singers, Stars of David, which I can’t put my fingers on at the moment. But here, at least is a photo of our prima donna…

Lovely.

All this fervor reminds me of the hellfire-and-brimstone Torah-reader at my family’s shul in Alhambra, CA, Edward Wellman.

Something to look forward to in the new year…

Leshone toyve!

Lorin