Name: Songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl. Workshop and Concert. Greenfield, MA
Start: 2024-06-30T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-06-30T16:00:00-04:00
Location: Temple Israel Greenfield

Songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl. Workshop and Concert. Greenfield, MA

Join the 2 p.m. choral workshop and 7 p.m. concert of Yiddish and Russian folk songs on Sunday, June 30. Polina Shepherd, choir director and performer, who grew up in a Russian Jewish home and now lives in England, will spend the day with us sharing her love of these folk musics and their harmonies.
A contribution on a sliding scale of $10–$30 is requested for each event.
Workshop
Polina Shepherd invites you on a journey with beautiful old East European Russian and Yiddish songs in beautiful harmonies. Warm up with an energetic nign, a traditional Jewish tune, let your heart out in a gorgeous Russian lyrical folk song, gain power in Yiddish songs, all with attention to history, context and style.
Music lovers of all backgrounds and singing levels are invited. Teaching is both by ear and with sheet music.
Concert
In this musical journey, Polina will present a mixture of original, classical and folk songs mainly in Yiddish with a few visits to cultural neighbours. Her unique style and repertoire, based on traditional forms, cuts a sound deeply rooted in East European folklore. This multi-faceted weave of songs will present a few ballads, drinking songs and grandparents’ tales mixed with some sweet, dreamy folklore plus a few songs for the audience to join in.
Workshop participants are invited to perform in this concert. This concert will inaugurate the baby grand piano donated to Temple Israel by Susan Hollins.
Polina Shepherd is a composer, performer, educator and cultural activist with over 30 years of professional experience. She grew up in a Russian Jewish home where songs were frequently sung at family celebrations. When living in Tatarstan and studying at the State Academy, she played in Russia′s first klezmer band after Perestroika, and toured the world with her own quartet, Ashkenazim. Now living in the UK, she leads choirs, collaborates with bands, orchestras, soloists, ensembles, records for film and theatre, and performs internationally.
Temple Israel is at 27 Pierce St., Greenfield MA. A contribution on a sliding scale of $10–$30 is requested for each event. The building is handicap-accessible.