These four albums are a great look into a specific time and place, the Music of the Chassidic communities in New York in 1962 and 1963. The liner notes are a wonderful part of the albums, they give background information on both the recording in whole and the individual tracks in most cases. The one thing lacking for some people may be that only translations of lyrics are given not the original texts.

The Lubovitch and Chassidic Wedding disks are completely instrumental recordings. The recordings are discussed on page 162 of Henry Sapoznik's book, "Klezmer! Jewish Music from Old World to Our World". Both recordings were made in a single session from "head" arrangements. This shows the familiarity of the musicians with the repertoire.

Velvel Pasternak has a whole chapter in his book "Beyond Hava Nagila" that describes the making of the two Bobover recordings. Velvel points out that Rabbi Laizer Halberstam was very insistent that even though a choir made up of singers who where not Bobover Hasidim were going to be used, the Polish Hebrew pronunciation was to be used (37). This attention to detail makes these wonderful recordings a different experience.

For the average fan of klezmer music the best place to start with the music may be Velvel Pasternak's book "Beyond Hava Nagila". Mr. Pasternak was the choral conductor on the two Bobover recordings and reading about them may explain who they sound the way that they do.

For the advanced fan and serious Jewish Musician the instrumental recordings are ones that you will want to have either one of them, or both of them. To add a different flavor and sound to either your record collection or your bands sound the Bobover recordings will be a good buy.

If you were at KlezKamp 2000 in New Jersey, or KlezKanada in 1999 and wanted to know how to get a recording with Howie Leess, the two instrumental recordings are ones that you want to run out and get. On these two recordings it is very easy to pick up the ³tailgate² lines that Howie is playing on tenor.

by Matt Temkin, 17 Jun 2001.

Songs from "Lubavitch Wedding"

1. Kabbolas Ponim-Choson / Greeting the Groom
2. Kabbolas Ponim-Kallo / Greeting the Bride
3. Badekns / Veiling of the Bride
4. Chuppah / The Wedding Procession
5. Recessional
6. Mitsvo Dances
7. Wedding Dinner
8. Closing Dances
(In total 17 Nigunim/Rikudim)

Songs from "Chassidic Wedding"

1. Kabbolas Ponim-Khoson
2. Kabbolas Ponim-Kallo
3. Badekns
4. The Khuppo
5. Recessional
6. The Wedding Dinner
7. Mitzvo Dances
(Dance melodies of; Vizhnitz, Lubavitch, Modzitz, Satmar, Skulen, and Mea Shearim.)

Songs of the Bobover Chassidim, Vol. 1

1. B'ni / My Son
2. Rikud / Dance
3. Heyn Babbiko / Whether in the Valley
4. Badekns / Veiling of the Bride
5. L'Chuppah / Wedding Processional
6. B'Shaas Hakiddushin / Durning the Ceremony
7. Kol Rinno / The Voice of Rejoicing
8. El Ginnas Egoz / The Garden of Nuts
9. B'vokacho / When Thou Didst Part
10. Keyl Odon / Almighty Master
11. V'appeyk / Set Free
12. Atto Echod / Thou Art One
13. (a) Omar Hashem L'Yaakov / Said the Lord
    (b) Y'hi Hashovua / May the Week
    (c) Hamavdil / He Who Separates

Songs of the Bobover Chassidim, Vol. 2

1. Ki V'simcha / For with Joy
2. V'hu Choson / And the Sun is as a Bridegroom
3. Yom Layoboshoh / The Day the Deep Became Dry Land
4. Big'lal Ovos / For the Sake of the Fathers
5. Tovim M'oros (Key Odon) / True and Good are His Luminaries
6. D'veykus / Meditation
7. Brider, Brider / Brother, Brother
8. Shabbos B'reyshis / Sabbath of Creation
9. Keyl Echod / The One G-d
10. Mim 'kom'cho / From Thine Abode
11. Aseyh / Do So
12. Sholosh S'udos Nigun / Melody for the Third Meal
13. Adir Oyom / Mighty Art Thou
14. Brawo, Brawo / Bravo, Bravo
15. Z'chor Hashem / Remember, O Lord

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Last revised 17 December, 2008.