Folklife Recordings

Susan Gaeta:
From Her Nona's Drawer

Sephardic Folk Songs: The Journey Continues

Page [1] [2] [3]

1. Flory’s Introduction (Chichi Bunichi)
La lingua de la madre-the language of the mother-all my songs that I brought to this country, I learned from my Nona— a real Sephardic folk singer. She sang a lot of Bosnian folk songs and little by little the Sephardic songs were losing the Spanish touch and adapting the flavor and the rhythms of Bosnia but the lyrics were always there. They have never left their Ladino language. I sing it in a very old fashioned Bosnian way. Then I taught my daughter, my daughter taught my aprentesita. It doesn’t sound the same—but it travelled— and this is the story of Sephardic songs. They could sound French, they could sound Greek, or Turkish because they settled in so many different lands. So when I heard them singing for the first time I said, “My God! It’s American now!” and I was so happy to hear that.

 

2. Yo M’enamori Yo m’enamori d’un aire D’un aire de una mujer D’una mujer muy ermoza Linda de mi korason Yo m’enamori de noche El lunar ya m’enganyo Si esto era de diya Yo no atava amor Si otra vez yo m’enamoro D’un aire de una mujer D’una mujer muy ermoza Linda de mi korason Sea de diya kun el sol	2. I Fell In Love I fell in love with the charms The charms of a woman Of a very beautiful woman The beauty of my heart I fell in love at night The moonlight was my undoing If it had been in daylight Love would not have bound me If I fall in love again With the charms of a woman Of a very beautiful woman The beauty of my heart It will be by day with the sunlight
3. Pesah Ala Mano Purim, Purim Purim lano Pesah, Pesah a la mano Las masas si stan faziendo Los japrakis si stan koziendo Aman, Aman Il Dyo bendicho muz da mazal Purim, Purim, Purim lano Pesah, Pesah ala mano La Nona sta diziendo a los nyetos Alimpya il puelvo kantones i los techos Purim, Purim Purim lano Pesah, Pesah ala mano Il Sinyor Rubi disho a las tiyas No kumer il pan ocho diyas	3. Pesach Is At Hand Purim, Purim, Purim is over Pesach, Pesach is at hand Matzot are being made The stuffed leaves are being baked Aman, Aman Almighty God gives us good fortune Purim, Purim, Purim is over Pesach, Pesach is at hand The grandmother is telling the grandchildren Clean the dust, corners and ceilings Purim, Purim, Purim is over Pesach, Pesach is at hand The Rabbi tells the aunts Not to eat bread for eight days
4. Simhat Tora Simhat Tora Simhat Tora Ya se nacyo la kriyatura Kun las kantikas di alegriyas Buenas pastelis di mis tiyas Simhat Tora Simhat Tora Las mansanas, myel i sirezas Il anyu muevu kun las dulsezas Simhat Tora Simhat Tora	4. Rejoicing of the Law Rejoicing of the law Rejoicing of the law A new child is born With songs of happiness My aunts arrive laden with pies Rejoicing of the law Rejoicing of the law Apples, honey and cherries To sweeten the new year Rejoicing of the law Rejoicing of the law
5. Siniza I Fumo En la guerta kemada Asentada la fija Pasharos pretos Apretan su korason Por los sielos ariva Pasa la luna Tapando su kara Kun una nuve de karbon Siniza I fumo Bolando, kayendo En un esfuenyo malo Sin salvasyon Siniza I fumo Inchen suz ojos No ay ken ke la desperte A darle konsolasyon	5. Ash and Smoke In the parched garden The girl sits Blackbirds Weigh down her heart In the sky above The moon passes Hiding her face In a cloud of ashes Ash and smoke Flying, Falling in a nightmare with no salvation Ash and smoke Swell her eyes There is no one to wake her To give her consolation
6. Las Tiyas Tiya Mazalta muz va a yamar     nochi di Hanuka Tiya Graysa muz va a yamar     nochi di Hanuka Para sinder las kandelikas kun     toda la mispaha Las hanukiyas di sirma blanka     muz kali alimpyar Tiya Luna muz va a yamar     nochi di Hagada Tiya Safira muz va a yamar     nochi di Hagada Para kumer las albondikas kun     toda la mispaha Kantaremus “Un Kavritiko”     dispuez di las birahas Tiya Paloma muz va a yamar     a kumer in la Suka Tiya Estreya muz va a yamar     a kumer in la Suka Kun frutas i flores di muchas     kolores Kun toda la mispaha	6. The Aunts Aunt Mazalta will invite us the     night of Hanukah Aunt Grasya will invite us the     night of Hanukah To light the little candles with the     whole family The menorahs of white silver     must be cleaned Aunt Luna will invite us the     night of Passover Aunt Safira will invite us the     night of Passover To eat the matzah balls with the     whole family We will sing “Chad Gadya” after     the prayers Aunt Paloma will invite us to     eat in the Sukkah Aunt Estreja will invite us to     eat in the Sukkah With fruits and flowers of many     colors With the whole family

Page [1] [2] [3]