Schubert's classic song is here sung in a rare Yiddish version, to a text by poet Moyshe Leyb Halpern. In this new recording, it is performed by bass-baritone Marc Berman. A favorite of many an opera singer, "Schubert's Serenade" has also been recorded by Jussi Björling, Beniamino Gigli, Giuseppe DiStefano, Fritz Wunderlich, Richard Tauber, Hans Hotter, Thomas Quasthoff, Bryn Terfel, and, of course, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, among others.
"Ständchen" is the fourth song in Franz Schubert's (1797-1828) final song cycle, "Schwanengesang" (Swan Song). The original German text to "Ständchen" was written by poet Ludwig Rellstab (1799-1860), as were all of the first seven songs of the cycle.
Interestingly, during this period, the last phase of his short life, Schubert also wrote an arrangement of Psalm 92 in its original Hebrew text for baritone and choir. The baritone was the Cantor and famed synagogue music composer Solomon Sulzer.
(Please help record rare Yiddish songs by becoming a Patreon member at www.patreon.com/CantorClassics , or by donating a small amount (or joining) at www.buymeacoffee.com/cantorclassics . It is so important that seldom-heard Yiddish songs from the past be preserved for future generations. Recording these songs is expensive. With your help, much more of this great music can be recorded and preserved. Thanks so much!)
Moyshe Leyb Halpern (1886–1932) was a Yiddish poet. After first writing in German, Halpern switched to Yiddish in 1907. He emigrated to New York in 1908.
Halpern was part of a group of Yiddish modernist poets referred to as "Di Yunge" (the Young Ones). He died of a heart attack at only forty-six.
The Yiddish text of "Schubert's Famous Serenade," which was the title under which the sheet music was published in 1914, is not typical of Halpern's work. He generally wrote free verse. In contrast, his text for "Serenade" is traditional rhymed poetry.
Born in Zlotshev, Galicia (now Ukraine), Halpern emigrated to New York in 1908. He seems to have been an irascible and uncompromising man who had difficulty maintaining steady employment. Consequently, he barely eked out a living. He wrote for various publications, and never for very long.
Nonetheless, his poetic abilities were well-esteemed in Yiddish cultural circles. Indeed, it might be said that his rigid nature gave Halpern’s poetry a certain integrity. He was also a talented graphic artist.
