Shadows - Songs from Testimonies, Vol. 3 audio CD with booklet (liner notes, lyrics with transliterations and translations)
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Side D contains original testimnonies' audio clips from the Fortunoff Video Archive, edited and mastered for this edition.
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Yinete prosklitiryo ke Stavrou Voutira—Γίνεται προσκλητήριο και Σταύρου Βουτυρά—There Was a Bugle Call on Stavrou Voutira Street
In his testimony, Pepo S. (1916–1995), a native of Salonika (Thessaloniki), Greece, remembers staying in the ghetto situated in the Baron Hirsch quarter, the Jewish quarter of the city. Pepo, with others also working at the Jewish Community organization, was preparing up to 1,400 meals every morning for those locked in the ghetto. He remembered two individuals of “terrible conduct”: Vital Hasson (EH, p.1326) and Edgar Chounio (pronounced Ku-nyo, EH, p. 1326). Chounio “exploited Jews in their vulnerable position, taking their money and abusing young girls as he pleased.” After the War, Chounio was convicted for collaboration. Vital Hasson was the kapo of the Baron Hirsch quarter, assigned by the Germans. This lyric of the song, according to Pepo’s testimony, was written by the daughter of someone named Dr. Menashe.
The music used here was the widely popular tune of Lili Marleen. The latter (also spelled Lili Marlen, Lili Marlene, Lily Marlene, and so on) had a rich history in itself. The music was composed by the NSDAP member Norbert Schultze in 1938, to the pre-existing poem by Hans Leip published in 1915 (republished in 1937). The first recording of Lili Marleen, by Lale Andersen, came out in 1939 and gained instant popularity. The turning point that won Lili Marleen mass popularity among the Allies was the version recorded by Marlene Dietrich in 1944 for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which had initiated the Muzak Project, musical propaganda broadcasts designed to demoralize Axis soldiers. The song was recorded about 200 times to multiple versions of the lyrics in many languages.
The version recounted by Pepo is truly remarkable: it juxtaposes the careless cabaret-style tune to the chilling story of the Jewish Police—collaborators in Salonika, naming the names and realistically setting the scene in the Baron Hirsch quarter. By pure luck, and thanks to Dr. Judith Cohen in Toronto, Canada, I was able to connect with Dr. Rena Molho in Thessaloniki. Dr. Molho not only helped transcribe the Greek text, but also provided wider historical context for the song: she happened to know Pepo S. and his family and provided a firsthand account of their family story and the Jewish community’s history during the Holocaust.
The arrangement of this song conveys the atmosphere of the cabaret music that moves in stark contrast with the lyrics. Towards the end, however, the lyric finally ‘breaks the wall,’ and the music goes into frenzy, revolving around just two lines from the chorus, yet never finishing it.
lyrics
Γίνεται προσκλητήριο και Σταύρου Βουτυρά
Πολιτοφύλακες τρέχουν να μην πάνε αργά
Πρώτος μας έρχεται ο Χάγουελ
το όνομά του Ντάνιελ
Μαζεύει αγγαρεία
και κάνει φασαρία.
Ερχονται μετά οι αδελφοί Λαζάρ
Οι αδελφοί Σιών και πλήθος άλλων σταρ
Και φτάνουνε αισίως
Οι αδελφοί Αμαρίλιο
Ο ένας μ ’ένα άστρο και ο άλλο με τα δύο
Κορίτσια φυλαχτείτε γιατί έρχεται ο Έντγκαρ
Επάνω στο μπαλκόνι εσάς θα ‘ρθει να πάρει
Yinete prosklitiryo ke Stavrou Vutira
Politafilakes trekhun namin pane arga.
Protos mas erkhetey o Haguel.
To onoma tou Daniel.
Mazevei angarya ke kani fasaria.
Erkhode meta i Adelfi Lazar.
Adelfi Sion ke plithos allon star.
Ke fthanoune esiyos iadelfi Amarilyo
O enas meena Astro kyo Allos meta diyo.
Koritsya fillakthite ya tierkhetay Odgar!
Opano sto paytoni esas tharthi napari.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
There is an ‘Appell’ (bugle call) in Stavrou Voutira.
Jewish police guards (Kapos) run so they won’t stall or linger.
First comes Hagwel,
His name (is) Daniel,
He gathers (people) for labor,
And makes a fuss.
Then follow the Lazar brothers,
The Sion brothers, and many other ‘stars,’
Finally arrive the Amarillio brothers,
One with one star and the other with two (irony).
Girls, beware, because Odgar is coming.
Up on the wagon it is you he comes to fetch.
credits
from Shadows - Songs from Testimonies, Vol. 3,
released January 19, 2024
Music: Norbert Schultze (1937). Greek lyrics: Unknown. Arranged by D. Zisl Slepovitch. Performed by Pepo S., testimony hvt.2790, tape 1.
supported by 6 fans who also own “Yinete prosklitiryo ke Stavrou Voutira”
One of the best new albums of Yiddish and Klezmer music on Bandcamp in my opinion. The collaboration of two sensitive artists of different generations who know a lot about Yiddish and American music.
dcarkner
supported by 5 fans who also own “Yinete prosklitiryo ke Stavrou Voutira”
One of my favourite musical discoveries in a while. These musicians are seriously talented. I can’t help imagining that there would have been a whole significant subculture of Yiddish psych rock like this in a different, kinder universe. For now, this is a window into that world that might have been. And I love every second of it. Audrey
Raw black metal that brooks no compromises, this has all the ferocious guitars, lo-fi aesthetics and infernal howling you crave. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 30, 2023
Led by klezmer phenom David Krakauer, this collaborative LP develops international sounds into an celebration of our common humanity. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2022
