Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman
Af di gasn fun der shtot
New Yiddish songs
*NEWS FLASH! BEYLE SCHAECHTER-GOTTESMAN HAS BEEN AWARDED A NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWSHIP BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS IN 2005 FOR HER YIDDISH SINGING, SONGWRITING AND POETRY!
AF DI GASN FUN DER SHTOT
New Yiddish songs by a leading Yiddish poet and songwriter, Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, and performed by today's best young klezmer artists and singers including: Michael Alpert, Adrienne Cooper, Frank London, Lorin Sklamberg, Theresa Tova, Sharon Bernstein, Benyumin Schaechter, Pete Rushefsky, Deborah Strauss.
The songs of Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman have been performed and recorded by singers and groups all over the world including Theodore Bikel, Mikveh, Finjan, Theresa Tova, Michael Alpert. She has served as an inspiration to younger generations of artists who seek to create new yiddish works. In 1998, she was inducted into the "People's Hall of Fame" by CityLore and the Museum of theCity of New York for her contribution to Yiddish culture in NYC.
Born in Chernovitz in Romania, she survived the war in the Chernovitz ghetto and came to the US in 1951. She has lived in the Bronx since then. In 2002, her fourth book of poetry, "Perpl Shlenglt zikh der veg", was published, and "Af di gasn fun der shtot "(On the streets of the City) released in August 2003 is her second CD. Her first recording of original songs, "Zumerteg", (Summerdays) has had a profound influence on Yiddish singers all over the world.
REVIEWS of AF DI GASN FUN DER SHTOT...
Jewish Music Web Center (JMWB): "This is an extraordinary album with tremendous creativity at all levels. The poetry and music of Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman is a modern miracle. To have such splendid new Yiddish songs in 2003, --in and of itself-- makes this album quite worthwhile. In addition, special care was obviously taken to match the song with the performer, because each of the voices is especially fitted and suited to that selection, in their timbre, mood, and interpretations of the songs... This album is highly recommended by JMWC".
Theodore Bikel writes: "I had great pleasure listening to your new CD: beautiful texts and melodies and the production was tastefully done! I especially liked the lyrics and music to the songs "A zemerl aza", "Yorn kumen, yorn geyen", and the humor in "S'iz matse do"
(translated from the Yiddish).
The Jewish Week (11/28/03) - AAAAA Rating!
A second excellent album of songs and poem by Schaecher-Gottesman, with able assistance from an all-star team headed by Michael Alpert, Adrienne Cooper, Teresa Tova and Lorin Sklamberg, among others. Where the first CD was nostalgic and bittersweet, this one is dark and brooding, perhaps taking its cue from a song about 9-11. - (George Robinson)
World: Yiddish