Rosh Hashanah songs are diverse, as are Yiddish songs, including Yiddish folk songs.  The lovely Yiddish song performed here, titled "Dorey Maylo Im Dorey Mato," arguably falls into all these genres, as well as chazzanut (synagogue music for vocal soloist). It is sung here by Marc Berman.

The origin of this Jewish folk song is as follows: The early Hasidic leader Rabbi Levi Yitzchok (Issac) of Berdichev (Bardichev) (1740–1809 ) was known for his intercession with the Almighty on behalf of his people. It is said that he wrote and recited this Yiddish song (there are multiple versions of the text and music) before he officiated as the chazzan (cantor, or prayer leader) on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Thus, the song ends with the first word of the Kaddish, the first required prayer that the prayer leader recites.  The Kaddish's traditional melody is a highlight of Rosh Hashanah services and Rosh Hashanah prayers (as well as Yom Kippur services and Yom Kippur prayers). 

Typically, the best Yiddish music, and, more specifically, Yiddish songs of this type (Rosh Hashanah music and Yom Kippur music), have been recorded multiple times. Artists who have recorded similar songs include Misha Alexandrovich and Sidor Belarsky,   as well as cantors such as Yossele Rosenblatt, Moshe Koussevitzky, Moyshe Oysher, Leibele Waldman  and Mordechai Hershman,  as well as opera singers like Jan Peerce and Richard Tucker. Strangely, however, there does not appear to be a widely-available recording of this beautiful piece (at least under the title found in the musical score.)

(Fundraising Note: This channel primarily releases new recordings of rarely heard Jewish music from the past, especially  Yiddish music. It is so important that such seldom-heard Jewish songs be preserved for future generations.  Recording and producing music is an expensive endeavor. This New Year, won't you please  help by becoming a member or donating at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cantorclassics . Thanks so much!) 

The music for this song is found in a book of Yiddish folk songs, mainly Hasidic,  compiled by baritone Chaim Kotylansky. He published the book in 1944, after he had been forced to retire from singing, due to illness.  

Interestingly, Kotylansky states in the preface that a main reason that he compiled a Yiddish folk song anthology was because he believed that Hasidim and other Orthodox Jews might soon disappear entirely, and with them their unique Jewish music.  The reason for the impending disappearance being mainly due to what Kotylansky referred to as  "barbaric fascism." He was, of course, referring to the then ongoing atrocities being committed by the Nazis and their collaborators, now called the  Holocaust. 

Curiously, just a few years after Kotylansky wrote his book, Abraham Cahan, editor of the Socialist-Yiddish newspaper "Der Forvets," embarked on a similar  mission of preservation. He sent a photographer to Brooklyn to photograph the "last religious Jews."

However,  as has happened so many times before,  such predictions of doom  regarding the Jewish religion were "premature." 

Returning to the song, in it,  Rabbi Levi Yitzchok  questions the suffering that the Jewish people has been forced to endure over the ages. He demands from the Almighty that He treat His people as any father would treat his children.  To that end, he quotes Deuteronomy 14:1: "You are the children of the Lord your God."

Indeed, the text of the entire song is largely written in the form of quotations from the Bible, Talmud,  and liturgy. This is similar to many of the piyutim (liturgical poems) recited on the Jewish High Holidays. Thus, a literal translation would be misleading, indeed, almost incomprehensible. Accordingly, the captions to the video present an interpretive  translation.

"Dorey Maylo."  Rosh Hashanah Song. Yom Kippur Song. Chazzanut. Cantorial.  Marc Berman

Please support our recording  of vintage Yiddish songs and classic Jewish music like hazzanut: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cantorclassics  .  T I'm trying to help preserve classic Jewish Eastern European vocal music. Specifically, Yiddish music and chazzanus (cantorial chant). 

Please help support my  efforts by following me and posting my songs on  your social media. To reach me, send me a message through Soundcloud.

You can watch videos of some of my songs at https://www.youtube.com/c/CantorClassics .

Here are some of my concert reviews:

"Marc Berman came to us in full flower [with] ...the richness of his ...voice." - Saul & Evelyn Friedman, The Capital

""One of the finest voices ... which moved easily through its coloratura passages and also provided a well accomplished ... top...." - Iris Bass, Sightlines Magazine

"Marc Berman provided solid [singing]." - James Oestreich, New York Times

"Superb" -Susan L. Pena, Reading Eagle-Times

 I'm also available for  concerts, and to officiate as chazzan at synagogue services, as well as at weddings, bar mitzvahs and funerals. 

Thanks for listening!

Regards,

Marc Berman

New tracks tagged #JewishMusic #YiddishSong #YiddishMusic