Israeli Music Splendidly Recorded; Spoken Arts
Records Offer Hebrew Lessons, Biblical Readings

Jerusalem, the Hebrew language
and its studies, Holy Scriptures—
these and many other matters of
general Jewish interest have be-
come significant subjects for re-
cordings. Lovers of recorded music
and of records of the spoken words
have been enriched by a number
of albums that will be considered
veritable treasures by those who
acquire them.
In the field of music, there are
two new records of Israeli music
that deserve more than the usual
attention.
Chief among the new recordings
is "Songs of Jerusalem," a collec-
tion of 12 songs, excellently ren-
dered by soloists and ensembles.
Produced by Hed-Arzi of Israel in
cooperation with the World Zionist
Organization Department for Edu-
cation and Culture in the Diaspora,
this record contains the latest
triumphant national hymn, "Yeru-
shalayim shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem
the Golden") by Naomi Shemer,
rendered in this album by Shuly
Nathan, and 11 other songs — all
forming an artistic link between
Israel the People and Israel
the State with the Hebrew language.
"Jerusalem the Golden" is the
initial song on the second side of
this 12-inch long-playing 331/2
r.p.m. record, and in both sec-
tions we have songs that merit
popularity and which may, as a
result of the issuance of this
record by an official Zionist
movement become theme songs
for public gatherings.
Hed-Arzi Vocal Ensemble of
Israel opens the entire series with
"Ki MiTzion" by E. Amiran, based
on a selection from Isaiah, and is
represented in the group of songs
with four other themes—"Lekhu
VeNivne" by Zeira, based on a
Book of Nehemia quotations;
"Vetekhezena Eyneynu" by N. C.
Melamed; "VeYehuda LeOlam Te-
shev" by M. Yakobson, based on a
Book of Joel theme, and "Golu,
Golu" by A. Ashman and E.
Amiran.
Another group represented is the
Karmon Ensemble singing a theme 1
from the Book of Zekharia, "Roni
VeSimkhi" by E. Gabai.
Other participants in this group
of 12 songs are: Nama Hendel,
singing Y. Neeman's "Yeffe Nof"
quoted from Yehuda Halevy, and
A. Hameiri's folktune "MeAl Pisgat
Har Hazofim"• Shlomo Carlebach
in "Mikdash Melekh" and Ron
Eliran in a stirring song "Lakh
Yerushalayim" by A. Ettinger and
E. Rubinstein.
Utilization of biblical themes
and the Yehuda Halevy selection
add significance to this splendid
record.
In announcing the new record,
which is available at $4 per album
from the publications department
of the Jewish Agency - American
Section, 515 Park Ave., New York,
10022, the department of education
and culture stated:
"The historic associations which
have given Jerusalem its universal
and unique renown are the corn-
mon property of civilized mankind.
Age after age, the name of the
city has evoked the pious venera-
tion of myriads and been proved
a never-failing fount of spiritual
inspiration. Yet this homage of
the entire world should not be
allowed to overshadow the consum-
ing and single-minded passion of
one particular attachment: that
of the Jewish people. For that
people, as for no other, Jerusalem
is not just its one and only re-
ligious center and source of the
spirit's life; from time immemorial
it has been, and it still is, the very
heart and core of the people—the
tangible embodiment of its nation-
hood, the lodestar in its wander-
ings, the theme of its prayers each
day, the destination of its hopes
for eventual Return unto Zion.
Jerusalem is holy to all monothe-
ism, but it never played a decisive
role in the national life of any
people but the Jews."

As a supplementary and highly
commendable record of 12 other
songs, the new album, "Jerusa-
lem of Gold—Songs of the Six-
Day War," produced by Fontana
Records, a division of Mercury
Record Productions, is most
appropriate to the present time
and highly valuable for music
lovers.
This one, indeed, covers the many
themes introduced by the June
war. With Shuly Nathan's rendi-
tion of "Jerusalem of Gold," and
Nasserite, Sharm el-Sheikh and
other subjects in the group, this
record will delight listeners.
"The Doodaim" ensemble is
presented in "We Shall Pass" and
"Nasser Waits for Rabin."
Nama Hendel also is represented
in this recording with "Tomorrow"
by Naomi Shemer and "I've Got
Your Letter" by M. Yolan Shtekelis
and Y. Nraun.
Other selections in this group
are: "The Letter" by Yehoram
Gaon, "Who Cares" by Shimon
Bar, "Epistle to Nasser" by Benny
Berman, "Sharm el-Sheikh" and
"Keep Your Fingers Crossed" by
Ron Eliran, "No Other Songs" by
Benny Amdursky.
Another ensemble worth noting
that is represented in the Mercury
album is The High Windows,
singing "Reunion With the Re-
serves."
The various speeds, the many
moods, the emphases on the war
themes and also on domestic
Israeli affairs in this group of
songs lends it meritorious acclaim.
* * *
Spoken Arts, Inc., deserves spe-
cial attention for its important
contributions. Many of its records
have a specific Jewish appeal, and
among the outstanding ones are
the lessons in Hebrew, the recorded
readings by Abba Eban and Eban's
UN speeches (which have already
been reviewed in ,these columns)•
recitations of the Song of Songs
and Psalms by Morris Carnovsky.
Eban's readings from Psalms
and Ecclesiastes, in English and
Hebrew, are incorporated in
what is undoubtedly one of the
most impressive records. A mas-

ter of both languages, Eban's
record was sponsored by Ameri-
can Friends of the Hebrew Uni-
versity. On behalf of Spoken
Arts, the firm's president, Arthur

the noted actor who has appeared

in many Broadway productions.
Then there is the Spoken Arts
record featuring Carnovsky in
the readings of Psalms. This rec-
ord includes Carnovsky's read-
ings of both the Hebrew texts
and the English translations.
Carnovsky reads Psalms 8, 19,
23, 24, 29, 42, 46, 90, 91, 100, 102.
117 121, 130, 137, 148 and 150.
There is genuine consecration
to a subject marked by devotibnal-
ism in the Carnovsky renditions,
and his recordings—his own and

the teaching of Hebrew. Already
famed for the results attained
by Ulpan, Dr. Kamrat has the
assistance, in the presentation
of this recorded course, of the
student voices of Mrs. Lily Edel-
man, assistant director of the
Bnai Brith adult education de-
partment, and of Dr. Ezri Atz-
mon, Hunter College lecturer in
education. The consultant in the
preparation of these recordings
was Dr. Louis L. Kaplan, dean
of the Balimore Hebrew College.
The approach to the teaching of
Hebrew in these conversational
lessons is practical. It deals with
the people and therefore with the
everyday usages of Hebrew. There
are discussions of traditional pray-
ers, concepts of learning, vocahu

ABBA EBAN

Luce Klein, suggested to Eban
that he should read some Psalms
and have them recorded, that
proceeds from such a record
should go to the Hebrew Univer-
sity for a Chair in American
Drama and Literature.
Under the direction of Klein, this
historic record is now among the
treasures of all lovers of the fine
arts, of linguists and especially of
Hebraists. Eban reads Psalms
8, 19, 23, 34, 90 and 148. And the
reverse of the Psalms record-
ings contains his readings—again
in Hebrew and in English — of
Ecclesiastes chapters 1, 3, 6 and 8.
This record is recommended as
a priceless possession to be trea-
ured, played and replayed:

* (: *

Supplementing this fine Eban
record, Spoken Arts has produced
two other recordings of readings
from the Psalms and Song of
Songs by an eminent actor and a
noted dramatist. The Songs of
Songs selections, presented by
Klein, were directed by Beverly
Merrill. The English portions are
read by Carol Veazie, an eminent
dramatist who has appeared in
many productions. The Hebrew
is rendered by Morris Carnovsky,

MORRIS CARNOVSKY

those with Carol Veazie—deserve
widest utilization of the splendid
products of able dramatists.
* * *
Perhaps the most extensive of
the Spoken Arts creations is the
set of records "Invitation to He-
brew" by Dr. Mordecai Kamrat.
In the two records that form this
course in Hebrew — providing a
home class for the study of the
language—a great expert has com-
piled the best sources for Hebrew
teaching and with the aid of able
participants has produced a way
of mastering the language — pro-
vided students devote themselves
to the course now recorded.
Produced with the cooperation
and support of the Bnai Brith de-
partment of adult Jewish educa-
tion, these two records are the
result of the expert labors of
Dr. Kamrat, the founder of the
Ulpan movement in Israel for

DR. MORDECAI KAMRAT

1 a r y in everyday experiences,
factors involved in visits to Israel,
the Sabbath, the Jewish calendar,
Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot and
Purim.
It is an all-inclusive study course
and it is provided by master peda-
gogues and assistants who know
Hebrew and are able to join in
offering effective guidance in
learning the language.
Spoken Arts records can be
ordered from the firm, 59 Locust,
New Rochelle, N.Y. Dr. Klein and
his associates have earned Jewry's
appreciation for the Eban records,
the scriptural readings in Hebrew,
the recorded Kamrat course in
Hebrew.

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