Ladino Hanukah Songs Shed Light on Endangered Language of Jews

Image by: Rhonda J. Miller

Rivka Amado performs Ladino songs at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville, California.

Ladino Hanukah Songs Shed Light on Endangered Language of Jews

From: Rhonda J. Miller
Length: 00:04:24

As the candles of Hanukah connect Jews around the world, holiday songs in Ladino shine a light on a language UNESCO rates as “severely endangered.” An increasing number of musicians in many countries are singing in this Judeo-Spanish language, which means it is no longer just your grandmother's Ladino. Read the full description.

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Piece Description

As the candles of Hanukah connect Jews around the world, holiday songs in Ladino shine a light on a language UNESCO rates as “severely endangered.”

A growing number of musicians are discovering Ladino, also called Judeo-Spanish, a language in danger of dying, along with its elderly speakers. With musicians in the United States, Latin America and Israel singing, and even writing, songs in this Judeo-Spanish language, it is no longer just your grandmother’s Ladino.

Ladino has become part of the soundscape of the Jewish musical revival and a recognized element of world music.

Transcript

Ladino Hanukah Songs Shine Light
on Endangered Language of Spanish Jews

Intro
As the candles of Hanukah connect Jews around the world, holiday songs in Ladino shine a light on a language UNESCO rates as “severely endangered.” Rhonda Miller has more on a language that’s been traveling with the Sephardic Jews since they were expelled from Spain more than 500 years ago and the music helping to keep Ladino alive.

The swirling rhythm of this Hanukah song in Ladino, recorded by Kat Parra of San Jose, California, can stir up an appetite for Judeo-Spanish music. That’s already happening for a growing number of musicians who are discovering a language in danger of dying, along with its elderly speakers.
Musicologist Francesco Spagnolo, curator of the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California Berkeley, says Judeo-Spanish songs are no longer just your grandmother’...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

4:04 + :20 music fade

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

As the candles of Hanukah connect Jews around the world, holiday songs in Ladino shine a light on a language UNESCO rates as “severely endangered.” Rhonda Miller has more on a language that’s been traveling with the Sephardic Jews since they were expelled from Spain more than 500 years ago and the music helping to keep Ladino alive.

OUTRO:

Musical Works

Title	Artist	Album	Label	Year	Length
Hanukia	Kat Parra	Dos Amantes.	JazzMa	2010	00:30
Adio Kerida (Farewell My Beloved)	Rivka Amado	Live from Hija Mia.	Rivka Amado Music	2009	00:30
Ventanas Altas (High Windows)	Rivka Amado	Live from Hija Mia.	Rivka Amado Music	2009	00:30

Images

"Rivka Amado performs Ladino songs at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville, California."
Credit: Rhonda J. Miller

original
"Rivka Amado and Joel Siegel perform Ladino songs and share research about the endangered Ladino language."
Credit: Rhonda J. Miller

original
"Francesco Spagnolo is curator of the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California Berkeley."
Credit: Rhonda J. Miller

original

Related Website

http://rivkamusic.com

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