"Alle Tog tue das Gzang zingin/Den gotesh Diensht dingt fuer alle Dingin", Di Tsaytmashin
This is a musical realisation by Avishai Fisz of the last song from
"Sefer Simkhes Haneyfesh". The language is an archaic form of Yiddish
from Western Europe. The original title of the song is "Alle Tog tue
das Gzang zingin/Den gotesh Diensht dingt fuer alle Dingin" ("chant
this song daily, as working the lord cures everything"), and it deals,
(with certain amount of brutality), with the horrors evoked by the hour
of death, and with faith - which is the only given antidote to that
awaited bitter punishment. Sefer Simkhes Haneyfesh ("The Book of
the Rejoicing Soul") is an Ashkenazi songbook first published in Bavaria
towards the end of the 17th century, containing songs of morality for
the Jewish home. The songs describe in very witty rhymes the diversity
of customs for the various Jewish holidays, the exalted consciousness
attained by following the Jewish tradition, and the pure joy of
believing in god. The language of the songs is a form of Old Yiddish,
and the musical notation for the songs- the only musical notation
existing today for works of Jewish music written in that period-reveal a
mesmerizing musical pastiche, spanning from pure baroque polyphony to
very spicy folk tunes. Di Tsaytmashin (Yiddish for "the Time
Machine") Ensemble is dedicated to reviving both the text and music of
this unforgettable work, never yet heard since the 17th century.
