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November 26, 2004
Learn to sing Yiddish
New CD/book unites Toronto and Vancouver talents.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY
Normally, when the Bulletin reviews a CD, it's all about
how it sounds, about how you'll feel as you sit and listen to the
music as it washes over you. Well, this CD is different. You don't
just listen to this one – you do as the title says, Sing
and Learn Yiddish.
The Sing and Learn Yiddish CD and book is a project of husband-wife
team Muni and Carol Basman. They were testing a prototype of the
CD/book on their grandchildren as far back as 2000 and have just
released the finished product in time for Chanukah this year.
Vancouver's Claire Klein Osipov, a consummate performer of Yiddish
music, sings the 18 Yiddish songs on the CD. Prior to recently retiring
from performance singing, Osipov performed many concerts across
Canada, directed children's choirs, sang on radio and television
and made numerous recordings. Included in her repertoire on Sing
and Learn Yiddish – and soon to be in your repertoire –
are "Oyfn Pripetshik," "Dona Dona," "Tayere
Malke," "Oyfn Veg Shteyt A Boym" and other well-known
folk songs. The book that goes with the CD sets out all the words
to each song in transliteration and each Yiddish word is translated.
Osipov is accompanied on Sing and Learn Yiddish by pianist
and fellow Vancouverite Wendy Bross Stuart, who also worked on arranging
the music. Stuart's long musical resumé includes directing,
ethnomusicology, teaching and arranging.
"The CD is well worth listening to just to hear her playing,"
said Muni Basman of Stuart's contribution to the recording.
Basman described the Sing and Learn Yiddish book by Oscar
Ross as a "work of art" and made special note of the whimsical
illustrations throughout the book by Ken Borden. For years, Ross
worked in the advertising industry. He has also been a sculptor
and has performed as a mime. In retirement, he has devoted himself
to painting and sketching. Borden is a cartoonist/illustrator who
operates an advertising agency and has produced a number of books.
Both men live in Toronto.
Sing and Learn Yiddish is for anyone who wants to be introduced
to or improve his or her Yiddish, or who wants to learn some beautiful
Yiddish songs.
"My late father, Leybl Basman, was, for more than 40 years,
a Yiddish teacher right across Canada, including at the Peretz shul
in Vancouver," Basman told the Bulletin. "Our home
was rich with Yiddish language and song. My children and grandchildren,
however, know little or no Yiddish. I had the idea that if I taught
them a few Yiddish songs they would learn many Yiddish words."
Basman has been a lawyer in Toronto for almost 45 years. Carol (Khaykele)
Basman, who worked on all facets of the book/CD, is a bookkeeper
by profession.
"I have a passionate love for Yiddish and particularly for
Yiddish songs," said Muni Basman of his motivation to produce
this CD/book. No doubt, it is his hope that there will be a few
more people passionate about Yiddish now that Sing and Learn
Yiddish has been released.
The CD/book costs $29.95 and is available online. For more information,
visit www.singandlearnyiddish.com.
The site offers a sample of how the CD/book works.
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