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Bald vet zayn a regn 00:45
A papir vil bageyn zelbstmord 01:05
 

Liner Notes

Two Humoresques (1965) comprises the songs Bald vet zayn a regn (Soon It Will Rain) and A papir vil bageyn zelbstmord (A Paper Wants to Commit Suicide). These delightful miniatures are, despite their umbrella title, more than mere amusements. Both are concentrated and elegant compositions with fine examples of tone painting—raindrops in the first, and the pathetic falling figure followed by the sounds of an approaching train in the second—tone painting that is used to integrate the songs rather than to provide trivial sound effects. Traditional Jewish melodic elements are woven into the musical texture with great subtlety, such that they are probably not recognizable to most listeners.

By: Yehudi Wyner

 

Lyrics

BALD VET ZAYN A REGN
Poet: A. Lutzky [Aaron Tsuker] (1894-1957)

Soon it will rain:
So goes the story on the street.
All houses look
Frightened and pale.

A piece of paper floats around
And shouts in the street:
Help me! Help me!
I will get wet!

The sun emerges from the heavens
And pauses in the street
And laughs—
There will be no rain.
It was just a joke.

A PAPIR VIL BAGEYN ZELBSTMORD
Poet: A. Lutzky [Aaron Tsuker] (1894-1957)

A piece of paper lost its appetite for life,
So it dropped itself upon the rails
And awaited the train.
With the train fast approaching,
It was frightened by the rush.
It picked itself up,
And off it went with an awesome joy.

BALD VET ZAYN A REGN
Poet: A. Lutzky [Aaron Tsuker] (1894-1957)

bald vet zayn a regn,
azoy dertseylt di gas.
kukn ale hayzer
dershroken un blas.

trogt zikh a papir
un lyaremt in gas:
gvald! gvald! ikh vel vern nas!

kumt a zun fun himl,
shtelt zikh op in gas,
un la-a-a-kht:
es vet nit zayn keyn regn.—
nor gemakht a shpas.

A PAPIR VIL BAGEYN ZELBSTMORD
Poet: A. Lutzky [Aaron Tsuker] (1894-1957)

a papir iz nimes gevorn dos lebn,
iz er tsugefaln tsu a rels
un hot opgevart di ban.
ven di ban hot zikh ongeyogt—
hot er zikh dershrokn farn impet,
zikh geton
a—hoyb-uf
un iz avek mit a moyrediker freyd.


 

Credits

Composer: Lazar Weiner

Length: 01:50
Genre: Art Song

Performers: Susan Davenny-Wyner, Soprano;  Yehudi Wyner, Piano

Date Recorded: 11/30/-0001
Venue: Sprague Hall, Yale University, Connecticut

Additional Credits:

Translations and Transliterations: Eliyahu Mishulovin
Preliminary preparations by Adam J. Levitin

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