The early settlers of Israel looked towards their roots for musical inspiration. For many this meant the tones and tunes of Eastern Europe. However, there were were also those who wanted to create a new style of music that would belong uniquely to Israel and reflect their new country. The songs written in this new “Israeli” style combined familiar Eastern European motifs, traditional Sephardic melodies and more exotic Middle Eastern and North African influences. For many these more “Eastern” exotic influences seemed closer to biblical music and reflective of the land of Israel. This new musical style is generally known as Mizrahi music.
A pioneer of this new style of Israeli music was Josef “Jo” Amar. A noted Moroccan-born Israeli singer and hazzan, Amar began his singing career in the late 1940s in Morocco before he moved to Israel in 1956.Read More About This…
Bob Berkman’s pianola brings a rich new sound to vintage early 20th century Jewish music
The first time I heard Bob Berkman’s CD, Klezmerola, I just couldn’t stop playing it. I loved the old time sound that Bob was able to achieve with his pianola. I loved the way the sound of the pianola (player piano) augmented the impact of the music that had once defined a generation of Jews and now was fading from memory.
I am delighted that the Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University can now boast a collection of 47 Jewish songs by America’s premier pianolist, Bob Berkman.Read More About This…
Rabbi/Cantor David Sirull posted this upbeat musical Rosh Hashanna video on You Tube. He is the spiritual leader of the Conservative synagogue in Augusta, Georgia and was classically trained in the art of Eastern European Chazanut. To hear a different side of Cantor Sirull’s talents listen to Mizmor Shir which is part of the Judaica Sound Archives collection.
Celebrate the New Year with the Judaica Sound Archives. . . . .
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This year the Judaica Sound Archives at FAU Libraries in Boca Raton, Florida is celebrating the High Holy Days by highlighting one of our favorite albums: Ye Shall Rejoice on your Festivals.
This album, recorded by Shimon and Ilana Gewirtz in the early 1970s, feature their children, Aviva (7 yrs old at the time of this recording), and Shira, who was 5.Read More About This…
Photo of Manning Martus (at left) with sister, Allyn, and mom, Devra
Manning Martus, along with her younger sister, Allyn and her mom, Devra, visited the Judaica Sound Archives at the Wimberly Library on FAU’s Boca Raton campus in October 2011.
She was looking for Mitzvah Project that reflected both her interest in music and her respect for her cultural heritage. And. She had a plan.Read More About This…
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