Jewish Folk Songs, Vol. 2

Mark Olf (1905–1987) was a composer and singer of Yiddish and Hebrew songs. He emigrated from Russia to the U.S. with his family when he was in his early teens; he later recorded some of the songs he had heard as a child, toured the country performing, and taught music at the Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side, Queens College (CUNY), and the University of Rhode Island. On this recording-–one of four he made for Folkways Records—he sings well-known Yiddish folk songs, accompanying himself on guitar. Yiddish, which incorporates German, Hebrew, and Slavic elements, was the primary secular language of the Jews in Eastern Europe. Liner notes provide English translations, English transliterations of the Yiddish, and the original Yiddish texts.

Track Listing

101	Az men fort kayn Sevastopol	Mark Olf	02:01
102	Die mame kocht varenikes	Mark Olf	01:30
103	A cholem	Mark Olf	01:43
104	Zits ich mir oyfn benkele	Mark Olf	01:25
105	Der fisher	Mark Olf	02:37
106	Tayere Malke	Mark Olf	02:07
201	Schlof mayn kind	Mark Olf	02:43
202	Genzelech	Mark Olf	01:33
203	Vos dos meidle vil	Mark Olf	01:50
204	Tum balalaika	Mark Olf	02:09
205	Di mizinke oisgegebn	Mark Olf	01:32
206	Bin ich mir a schnaiderl	Mark Olf	02:10
207	Reizele	Mark Olf	03:13