A Yiddishe song in her heart

PETER FELDMAN

While the world is trying out the newest technology, this King David Linksfield High School alumnus is going back to our Yiddish roots. She has been giving a vivid new life to a batch of well-loved Yiddish songs by releasing her debut solo album, “A Bisl Libe – A Bit of Love”.

“I have always had a love for Yiddish songs,” she told SA Jewish Report, “and I was at a function performing when the rabbi suggested I do an album.

“I was very flattered. Obviously he liked my voice and it was suggested then that I record a Yiddish album, an idea which appealed to me instinctively.

“I discussed the project with my music teacher, Ann Hamblin, who thought it a wonderful idea. She was thrilled and said to me that Jewish people were always asking for Yiddish music. I felt I really had a connection to this form of music because it has so much emotion. It’s not how you sing it but how you put the story across.”

A number of people helped her find the right material. An added boost came from opera singer Aviva Pelham, whose daughter happens to be married to Nudelman’s brother Craig, who also has a penchant for singing. Pelham boasted a diverse collection of Yiddish songs and it was just a matter of choosing the right combinations.

“A Bisl Libe – A Bit of Love”, was recently launched at a concert fittingly staged in the open at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre in Forest Town.

Nudelman treated her audience to a wonderful musical journey with nostalgic stories and anecdotes about her life and her family. She was tastefully accompanied by a six-piece band comprising Avi Kanar (piano), Peter Jaspan (saxophone), Avi Levy (guitar), Jonathan Mayer (violin), Godfrey Mgcina (percussion) and Peter Sklair (bass guitar), who helped give the evening a special magic.

Songs such as “Mit Dir iz Mir Gut”, “Yid’l mit’n Fid’l”, “Oif’n Pripitchik” and “Maz’l” stood out, all beautifully rendered with a simple infectious style and emotional verve.

Coming from a musical family, Nudelman moved effortlessly into her musical space. After having completed a Masters in Performance Making at Goldsmith College, University of London in 2008, she began performing her works at various platforms in South Africa and also became more involved in community work.

Singing is part-time at the moment, but she would love to expand into a full career one day. She sees her main role at present as being a mother to her children, Benjamin and Ella, and singing in the Beit Emanuel choir. She also finds time to run her  business in personal styling.

She adds: “I’m under no illusion that Yiddish music will bring me fame and fortune, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do. If people want me to perform I will be only too happy to do it for them.”

* If people would like to purchase the CD (R200) they can order it via e-mail inudels@googlemail.com or on the link: https://abisllibe.blogspot.co.za/p/the-songs.html