Download Yiddish Folk and Danny Elfman

Music
Investigations:
Yiddish Folk and
Danny Elfman
Yiddish language
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The word “yiddish” is the Yiddish word for Jewish
Was the international language of the Ashkenazic Jews
Hybrid of Hebrew and medieval German
Very few people now speak Yiddish, Jews now usually only
know a few words (most likely not meant for polite company)
Jewish Faith-A History
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The Belief in one god, Torah
Abraham was told his children would have plenty and would
live in The Promised Land
Moses lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, where they
were being enslaved, to the promised land-Canaan
Was conquered by many: Diaspora- dispersion of Jews to
avoid persecution
Holocaust
1948- Palestine divided up, Israel defined
Different variations on Judaism today
Mark Olf (1905-1987)
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Composer and singer of both
Yiddish and Hebrew songs
emigrated to U.S. from Russia when
he was young
Recorded the songs he heard as a
child
Taught music at Henry Street
Settlement, Queens College, and
University of Rhode Island
Yiddish Folk Songs for Children
(1960) was one of four recordings
made for the Folkways
Example: Yankele
Bai Dem Shtetl
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A song in Yiddish Folk Songs for
Children album
● Translates to “In the City”
● Describes a house, the narrator’s family
and the various pets
● Storytelling tone because is aimed at
children
● Key of harmonic C minor
● Nice repetitive rhythm
Bai Dem Shtetl song
Daniel Robert Elfman
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Born May 29, 1953 in Los Angeles California
Composing for over 30 years, 4 Oscar
nominations (no oscar yet)
Has composed scores for a bunch full films, and
many other various shows (Nightmare Before
Christmas, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, The
Simpsons etc.)
Best known for collaboration with Tim Burton
Composed a score for his brother, Richard’s,
film The Forbidden Zone, for which he put
together his band, the Mystic Knights of Oingo
Boingo
Halloween is his favorite time of year
Jewish heritage “strongest link...is musical”
Example:
Jack's Lament
This Is Halloween
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Written for Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas
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Thumping Rhythm and repetition
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Danny Elfman is singing voice for Jack throughout the
film
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Child-adult audience
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Tone of mystery and a dark power, with a side of fun
This Is Halloween song
Comparisons:
Secondary
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Similar phrasing:
they both start off
instrumental as an
introduction to the
melody, then move
to the vocals. They
are both also very
repetitive in that
they repeat the
melodic lines, but
with different words.
Bai Dem Shtetl and This is Halloween
Primary
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Tone: they both have
a darker, storytelling
tone, created by the
rhythmic repetition
and key. They also
are both describing a
place in a proud
manner. (they are
both the vocalists in
these songs, cool!)
Differences
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Olf’s is much simpler,
aimed at younger
children, whereas
Elfman’s is more
complicated with more
phrases
Elfman works with
many instruments,
providing lots of colors,
while Olf tends to use
only one instrument
(guitar) and his own
vocals
Works Cited
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Bai Dem Shtetl." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Danny Elfman." Kraft-Engel Management. 3 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Judaism 101: Yiddish Language and Culture." Judaism 101: Yiddish Language and Culture. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Puppet Score Tugs at Elfman’s Heart Strings | Arts." Jewish Journal News. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"URI Kids :: World Religions." URI Kids :: World Religions. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Yiddish Folk Songs for Children." Smithsonian Folkways -. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Yiddish Folk Songs for Children by Mark Olf on ITunes." ITunes. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"â « The Nightmare before Christmas - 'This Is Halloween' Lyrics HD â «."YouTube. YouTube. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.