§40. Yiddish Songs. XXXI. Non-English Writings I. Vol. 18. Later National Literature, Part III. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes. 1907

The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
VOLUME XVIII. Later National Literature, Part III.

XXXI. Non-English Writings I.

§ 40. Yiddish Songs.

The Jew is known for his love of the song, and the sadder the song the more intense the response. The badchen, the wedding bard, with his mournful singsong and his opening formula“Weep, bride, oh weep!” is a traditional figure of the Ghetto. The modern composer of literary verse is known among the masses, if at all, by poems that have been set to music, and every Jewish poet of repute has many such to his credit. Frug, the celebrated Jewish-Russian poet, is sung perhaps more than read. Reisin’s Mai Kamashmalon, that groan of the Ghetto, and the same author’s portentous Huliet, Huliet, Boese Winten have become national lyrics.