Re: Gershwin/Porter equivalents in Russia?

Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 01:39:58 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
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In article <efFSa.13868$email-address-deleted>, "Edward Bridge" <email-address-deleted> wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
>
>
> Kirsti and I volunteer Friday mornings playing music for patients in the
> geriatric psychiatric ward at a nearby hospital. We like to vary our
> repertoire and include "something for everyone" In the last year a lot of
> Russians have come to the ward, and many are Russian Jews. When we play
> Gershwin or Cole Porter, the elderly American patients’ eyes light up. Who
> are the Gershwin/Porter equivalents in Russia?
>
> Any suggestions of music for voice and guitar would be deeply appreciated. Peace and Thank you
>
> Edward Bridge
>
> www.bridgekaldromusic.com
P.S. Does anyone have any recommendations of transcriptions of Kurt
Weill songs – like “September Song,” or “Speak Low?” We have time to
learn new music in August when most of our students are away…
> Hi Ed,
You might try playing/singing some famous Israeli/Chasidic/Traditional
songs like Yerushalyim Shel Zahav, (Jerusalem of Gold) Havah Nagilah,
Bashanah Haba'ah, Kol Ha'olam Coolo-Gesher Tzar Me'od (All of the World
is a Very Narrow Bridge), Heveynu Shalom Aleichem and Od Yishoma
(composed by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach). Most Russian Jews know these
classic songs or at least will be attuned their color/mood and will be
very appreciative. If you're not familiar with these songs take a ride
on the W or F train to 13th Ave. in Boro Park, Brooklyn where you live
and check out a Jewish book store called Eichler's (corner of 13th and
50th St.) that has various songbooks and CD's/tapes.
The chord progressions are fairly simple for these kinds of songs if you
can't find a songbook.
Another great store is Mostly Music (13th Ave. between 48th &49th st.'s)
that has a wonderful selection of CD's. The salespeople will be more
than happy to help you there and can give you good repertoire
suggestions. When you tell them the reason why you want to learn these
songs they'll be very impressed because it is such a great "Mitzvah"
(commandment) in Judaism to comfort/visit the ill and honor the elderly.
I guess the problem may be learning the words in Hebrew but as long as
your wife learns the melody and sings it on a syllable like 'la' it
should be enough to get your point across musically. Some of the songs
are easy to learn the words to in Hebrew.
As far as Russian songs, you can always sing things like Dark Eyes (Ochi
Chernye) and Moscow Nights. Try this songbook right here:
http://www.opendoorbooks.com/music/russiansngbk.htm
It has guitar chords & both the original Russian and a transliteration
which will enable you to approximate as best as you can the way the
words sound.
September Song and Speak Low are both Jazz/club date standards and the
best thing to do is get a fake book with the chord symbols and make a
little arr. yourself to accompany your wife. Speak Low has such a
beautiful chord progression, I usually play it as a light Bossa nova
with block chords in a clave beat in the style of Joao Gilberto.
Say are you coming to the next NYC Classical Guitar Society meeting?
Check out the http://www.nyccgs.com for more details. I see you have donated proceeds of a guitar sale to
the society, thanks very much, that's very generous of you! If you have
any more questions about music please E-mail me at email-address-deleted
best of luck,
snoops