In Search of Greener Fields: Rurality, Nostalgia, and Ideology in Yiddish-American Folksong

Lecture Produced by the American Society for Jewish Music’s Jewish Music Forum Co-sponsored by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Admission: Free

This presentation by Zeke Levine considers themes of rurality in 20th century Yiddish-American folksong. On one hand, the "fiddler on the roof" image of Yiddish rurality served as a nostalgic salve for American Jews attempting to negotiate their place in post-WWII United States. On the other, contemporary rural Yiddish life, expressed through songs such as "Dzhankoye," carried a radical ideological valence, symbolizing a Soviet-aligned return to the land that broke from the Tsarist past.

Through the analysis of musical performances, liner notes, and concert programs, this lecture unpacks the multitude of meanings of rurality within Yiddish-American folksong, linking this musical tradition not only with Eastern European antecedents but also with the burgeoning American folk revival.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.