Passing the Torch: Jewish Music Archives and the Future of Yiddish Song

Around 1900, East European Jews became acutely aware of the impact of modernization and urbanization on their culture: on their songs, their tales and customs. They set in motion a wide range of projects and institutions to gather, archive, and study fading folklore.

YIVO was a pioneer in this push, along with a galaxy of Polish and Russian (later Soviet) activists. Today, with the loss of the original population and the huge demographic and cultural shifts of world Jewry, the surviving archives both preserve and channel a rising tide of interest, even a hunger, for what’s called “Yiddish” music and folklore.

This symposium brings together archivists, scholars and performers to discuss the history and creation of Yiddish folk music archives, and the future of the study and performance of Yiddish song today. What is the role of Jewish music archives in fostering new scholarship and Yiddish music?

This event is co-presented by the American Society for Jewish Music.











When: Sun., Apr. 6, 2014 at 11:00 am
Where: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
15 W. 16th St.
212-294-8330
Price: $10; $7 YIVO members, seniors and students
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Around 1900, East European Jews became acutely aware of the impact of modernization and urbanization on their culture: on their songs, their tales and customs. They set in motion a wide range of projects and institutions to gather, archive, and study fading folklore.

YIVO was a pioneer in this push, along with a galaxy of Polish and Russian (later Soviet) activists. Today, with the loss of the original population and the huge demographic and cultural shifts of world Jewry, the surviving archives both preserve and channel a rising tide of interest, even a hunger, for what’s called “Yiddish” music and folklore.

This symposium brings together archivists, scholars and performers to discuss the history and creation of Yiddish folk music archives, and the future of the study and performance of Yiddish song today. What is the role of Jewish music archives in fostering new scholarship and Yiddish music?

This event is co-presented by the American Society for Jewish Music.

Buy tickets/get more info now