Keeping the Language alive

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Two groups of musicians are working on separate campaigns to keep the colorful language of Yiddish alive…through music.

The Divas and their fellow musicians

Singer Fay Sussman and violinist Lara Goodridge will launch the debut of their CD “Deep is the Night” at popular Sydney jazz spot Blue Beat in Double Bay on September 2.

They will be joined on stage by musicians Daniel Weltliner, Eddie Bronson, Philippe Wittwer, Phil Marks and Mark Harris.

In the 20 minute video below Sussman and Goodridge talk about two very different approaches to the language of Yiddish…

Their concert may well prove to be a very interesting blend of two creative spirits heading towards the same destination from two very different directions…

In the meantime, every week a group of enthusiasts gather in the hall of Sydney’s inner city Newtown Synagogue where popular music academic Dr Joseph Toltz is working with Clare Fester to establish a Yiddish Choir.

Joseph Toltz works with his choir

Clare Fester and Joseph Toltz

Fester, 22, told J-Wire: “I’m not Jewish. I was living in Canberra and went to visit my grandmother who lives in Adelaide. I was only 14 at the time and there was only one book in the house for me to read. It was Leon Uris’s “Exodus” and I became fascinated with the story of the Jews. I ultimately studied Yiddish at Sydney University until they shut down the course and I had to complete my studies at Monash in Melbourne.”

Toltz’s group is growing steadily. He said: “We have not yet reached a level at which we can perform but we are getting there. And although the group is small, it continues to grow.”