I may update this over time. Here’s a table of various copyright scores and links to commercial recordings by the Philadelphia klezmer clarinetist and bandleader Harry Kandel. (Also: this is the kind of thing that would eventually be great to have in a more dynamic framework like the Klezmer Archive, but for now a table will do.) My goal here is partly to give context to the new copyright scores I received, but also to explore the overlapping Kandel items in digital collections and what copyright limits are put on them.
I compiled this from various sources: audio listings in Florida Atlantic University’s Recorded Sound Archive, University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Mayrent Collection of Yiddish Recordings, as well as others like the Internet Archive, Dartmouth Jewish Sound Archive and the Discography of American Historical Recordings when those first two fell short. I did not try to add every single possible link to a digitized recording (Dartmouth has many more than I linked, for example).
I juxtaposed these with scanned manuscripts from the U.S. Library of Congress’ Yiddish American Popular Sheet Music collection or others I paid to have digitized from the LOC.; and checked the list against listed recordings in Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893 to 1942 Vol. 3 by Richard K. Spottswood, the Discography of American Historical Recordings list of Kandel’s work, and Allen Lutins’ KlezmerGuide. Some of these same melodies were also recorded by other artists or printed in other collections; take a look at KlezmerGuide for further info.
| Title | Manuscript | Sound Recording | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Freilachs Von Der Chuppe {A Happy Dance From The Wedding Ceremony} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1917 |
| Oddessar Bulgarish {Jewish Dance From Odessa} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1917 |
| A Freylachs Die Mamma Is Gegangen In Mark Arein {The Mother Goes To Market} {Old Hebrew Song From Odessa} | No known copyright score | FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1917 |
| Der Stiller Bulgarish {The Quiet Bulgar} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, LOC Jukebox | 1917 |
| A Abspiel Far Die Machatonim {Hebrew Wedding Music For The Parents Of The Bridegroom} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1917 |
| A Yiddisha Honga-Hebrew Dance | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1917 |
| Polka Lubka {Lively Polka} | No known copyright score | Internet Archive; Mayrent Collection | 1918 |
| Mazur Weselny {Lively Mazurka} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, Internet Archive | 1918 |
| Kolomeyka | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, LOC Jukebox | 1918 |
| Rusiche Shaer {Russian Dance}-Pt. 1 | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, (*Earlier recording of this was a reject) | 1918 |
| Rusiche Shaer {Russian Dance}-Pt. 2 | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, (*Earlier recording of this was a reject) | 1918 |
| Hora {Dance} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, (*Earlier recording of this was a reject) | 1918 |
| Dem Trisker Rebens Nigen {Characteristic Jewish dance} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, LOC Jukebox | 1918 |
| Der Nicolaiver Bulgar {A Bulgar Dance} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, LOC Jukebox | 1918 |
| Hopack | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, LOC Jukebox | 1918 |
| Doina | No known copyright score | *Recording was a reject | 1918 |
| Lebedig Und Freylach {Lively and Happy} | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection (1921) | 1918/21 |
| Kiever Bulgar {Dance From Kiev} | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Bapolier Freylachs {Bapolier Song Of Happiness} | Google drive (from LOC) | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Die Lustige Chsideem | LOC | FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Freyleche Mechitonim {Lively Relatives} | LOC | Mayrent Collection, Internet Archive, LOC Jukebox, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Patch Tanz {Hand-Clapping Dance} | LOC | Internet Archive, FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Choosin Kalle Mazel Tov {Good Luck, Bride And Groom} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Sha! {”Hush!”} | LOC was not able to locate this score | Internet Archive, FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Roumainische Bulgar {Roumainian Dance} | LOC | Mayrent Collection, Internet Archive, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Russishe Komarinska | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection (1921), FAU RSA (1921), LOC Jukebox (1921), Internet Archive (1921), DJSA (1924, login required), FAU RSA (1927, login required) | 1921/24/27 |
| Der Broiges Tanz | LOC | FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Flaskadriga-Dance Of The ”Chasidem” | Google drive (from LOC) | Mayrent Collection, Internet Archive, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| A Zoi Feift Min Un A Schweiger {Putting It Over On Mother-In-Law!} | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| A Purim By Der Seeda | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA, DJSA (login required) | 1921 |
| The Goldene Chasina {The Golden Wedding} | LOC | Mayrent Collection (1921), Internet Archive (1923), FAU RSA (1923, login required), Mayrent Collection (1923), Mayrent Collection (1924) | 1921/23/24 |
| Yasser Bulgar | LOC | FAU RSA (1921), Mayrent Collection (1921), FAU RSA (1923, login requred) | 1921/23 |
| Bukarester Bulgar | LOC | FAU RSA (1921), Mayrent Collection (1921), FAU RSA (1923, login requred) | 1921/23 |
| Mohlever Bulgar | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Ma Yofis | Google drive (from LOC) | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Ba A Glassella Wein | LOC | FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Kandel’s Bulgar | Google drive (from LOC) | FAU RSA, Mayrent Collection | 1921 |
| Yekatarinslaver Bulgar | LOC | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA | 1921 |
| Auf Der Mohldivanka {On The Great White Way Of Odessa} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, LOC Jukebox | 1923 |
| Mamaliga-Roumanian Dance | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required), LOC Jukebox | 1923 |
| Buccaviner Bulgar | No known copyright score | Unclear if this was a reject | 1923 |
| Freylacher Choosid {Happy Student} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection (1923), UC Santa Barbara via DAHR (1923) LOC Jukebox (1923), Mayrent Collection (1927), FAU RSA (login required) | 1923/27 |
| Der Zaide Mit Die Babba {The Grandfather And The Grandmother} | No known copyright score | Internet Archive (1923), FAU RSA (1923, login required), Mayrent Collection (1923), Mayrent Collection (1924) | 1923/24 |
| Der Gassen Nigen {The Street Melody} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, LOC Jukebox, FAU RSA (login required), | 1923 |
| Serba Popilor {The Serbian Priest} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1923 |
| Bolter Bulgar {The Bulgar Of Balta} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, Internet Archive | 1923 |
| Simchas Toirah In Der Alter Haim {The Rejoicing Of The Torah In The Old Country} | No known copyright score | FAU RSA (login required) | 1923 |
| Doina and Hora | No known copyright score | FAU RSA (login required) | 1923 |
| Sha! Der Rebe Tantzt {Sh! The Rabbi Is Dancing} | Google drive (from LOC) | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Hopak | Copyright score exists but not yet ordered from LOC | DJSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Der Ferginegen Fin Tatta Mamma {The Parents Joy} | Google drive (from LOC)* the name is switched with Nacht in Gan Eden | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Dus Zekele Geld {The Sack Of Gold} | LOC was not able to locate this score | Mayrent Collection (1924), FAU RSA (1924, login required), Mayrent Collection (date unknown) | 1924 |
| A Nacht In Gan Adin {A Night In Paradise} / Die Freylachs Nacht In Ganeden {The Happy Night In Heaven}-Freylachs | LOC was not able to locate this score. *the score by this name corresponds to “Der Ferginegen..” melody above | Mayrent Collection (1924), FAU RSA (1924, login required), UC Santa Barbara via DAHR (1926) | 1924/26 |
| Der Zisser Cholem | Google drive (from LOC) | *Recording was a reject | 1924 |
| Machotonim A Heim | LOC was not able to locate this score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Far Dem Rebbins Koovid | LOC was not able to locate this score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Die Chasidim Forren Tsum Rebbin {The Chasidim Visit The Rabbi} | Google drive (from LOC) | FAU RSA (login required), DJSA (login required); earlier recording was a reject | 1924 |
| Der Zaida Mit Dem Ainikel | LOC was not able to locate this score | *Recording was a reject | 1924 |
| A Yiddisha Chasina {A Jewish Wedding} | LOC was not able to locate this score | Youtube, DJSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Es Is Schön Lightig {Dawn Appears} | Google drive (from LOC) | Mayrent Collection | 1924 |
| Russian Revolution March | Google Drive (from LOC) | *Recording was a reject | 1924 |
| Doina {Doina Und Serba} (arr Kandel) | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1924 |
| Der Shikerer Moldawan-Bulgar | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Naches {Joy} -Bulgar | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1924 |
| Die Turkishe Chasene {A Turkish Wedding} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1924 |
| Dus Geliebte Palestina {Beloved Palestine}-Bulgar | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1925 |
| Froeliche Rusiska {Malo-Russian Peasants’ Dance} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1925 |
| Pozsha {Fire}-Bulgar | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1925 |
| Dus Freylache Russland {Happy Russia} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1925 |
| A Laibediga Honga {A Lively Honga}-Bulgar | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1925 |
| Cohen’s Visit To The Sesquicentennial- Novelty Fox Trot | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1926 |
| Jakie Jazz ‘Em Up | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection | 1926 |
| Bie A Glezele Mashke {At The Drinking Table}-Freylachs | No known copyright score | UC Santa Barbara via DAHR | 1926 |
| Der Muzinikel {The Youngest One}-Freylachs | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1927 |
| Chevre, Nit Gezorgt {Folks, Don’t Worry}-Freylachs | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1927 |
| Lebedig, Chatskel {Lively, Chatskel} | No known copyright score | Mayrent Collection, FAU RSA (login required) | 1927 |
| Diene Schwartze Oigen {Your Black Eyes} | No known copyright score | FAU RSA (login required) | 1927 |
A few observations. First, Kandel was most active in submitting copyright scores in two years, 1921 and 1924, despite putting out 78rpm discs between 1917 and 1927. Second, he has an interesting range of material, including some things that are a bit more exotic in the 1910s/20s American klezmer context (A Abspiel Far Die Machatonim, Die Turkishe Chasene). Others are very common melodies recorded by a number of his contemporaries (Der Gassen Nigen, Serba Popilor, Der Stiller Bulgarish, etc.).
The other thing that interests me in comparing these various digital collections is how these 100 year old materials are treated in terms of copyright and public access.
- Mayrent Collection is the most open and complete; login is not required to stream any of the pieces, and they were often the only archive to have a rare Kandel piece. In my opinion, as it is more recent and digitized with care, the audio quality is best here too.
- Florida Atlantic University’s Recorded Sound Archive was the original place I encountered a lot of these Kandel sides 15 years ago. They require an account and login to stream the full recordings for ones made in 1923 or later. I think most of them were digitized 15 years ago or more and so they have acceptable sound quality but not quite as good as the Mayrent Collection.
- Dartmouth University’s Jewish Sound Archive has almost as many as MC and RSA, even though I got to it last in this effort and therefore didn’t link most of them. It requires registration and login to stream any of them, no matter when they were released, although registration can be done with social media.
- The Internet Archive has about a dozen Kandel pieces, and they can be streamed without a login. However, the sound quality is mixed.
- The Library of Congress has 15 of Kandel’s manuscripts posted publicly on their digital collection. These are all from 1921, although they missed a few 1921 scores by him. They also have about a dozen Kandel sound recordings on their digital jukebox which have a decent sound quality and can be streamed without a login. By paying for digitization I got a handful more copyright scores from 1921, and another batch from 1924. They couldn’t locate about 10 that are known to exist.
- The Discography of American Historical Recordings has a very complete list of Kandel’s recordings, of which about 25 can be streamed without a login. The digitization is of decent quality and was done at UC Santa Barbara; I tried to follow through to UBSB’s library and see if they host the tracks directly but I couldn’t get them to come up in their catalogue.
One last thing that made me chuckle a bit was the mixup between “Der Ferginegen Fin Tatta Mamma” and “A Nacht in Gan Adin.” “A Nakht in Gan Eden” has been one of the best-known klezmer tunes since the 1970s revival, appearing in Compleat Klezmer and many a jam session. On the copyright score we can see that “Der Ferginegen..” has been written out under the title “A Nacht..” I assume if they had been able to find the other score it would have had the familiar “A Nacht..” melody. The titles are equally meaningless in relation to the tunes, but I wonder if Kandel has originally meant the opposite and it was a record company mixup that immortalized A Nakht in Gan Eden as we know it. Or maybe he changed his mind at the last minute. By the time of the 1926 re-recording he kept the name.
Thanks to Tom Deakin who noticed the “Nacht in Gan Adin” mixup and to Patty Farrell who sent me a trove of info about Kandel a few years ago. And of course to Hankus Netsky whose Klezmer: Music and Community in Twentieth-Century Jewish Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 2015, gives a great background on Kandel and his context.