Broder singer
Encyclopedia
The Brodersänger or Broder singers, from Brody
in Ukraine
, were Jewish itinerant performers in Austrian Galicia, Romania, and Russia, professional or semiprofessional songwriters and performers, who from at least the early 19th century sang and danced, often in comic disguises, and who performed short one-act plays. They were often badchonim
(traditional wedding entertainers) and meshorerim (singers in cantors' choirs). They were among the first to publicly perform Yiddish-language songs outside of Purim
plays and wedding parties, and were an important precursor to Yiddish theatre
. They erected miniature stages and entertained customers in taverns, wine cellars, and restaurant gardens.
The first written records of the Broder singers are the remarks of Jews passing through Brody, which was a trading center on a major route of travel ("a stopping point on the travels of Russian Jewish merchants to and from the Leipzig fair."). These records are generally disapproving of the singing of songs when no particular occasion called for music.
Later the term Broder Singer was applied to performers who had no connection with Brody.
Among the most famous Broder singers were Berl Margulis - better known as Berl Broder
(1815–1868) - and Moyshe Prizament and his son Shloyme Prizament
. Some of Berl Broder's original songs, along with the works of his son and grandson who continued the tradition of secular Yiddish writing, can be found in his grandson Ber Margulies' book Dray doyres̀ lider fun Berl Broder (Margulies), feliṭonen fun Yom Hatsyoni (Yitsḥaḳ Margulies), poemen un lider fun Ber Margulies (1957) (free online download from the Yiddish Book Center).
Brody
Brody is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Brody Raion , and is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the oblast capital, Lviv...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, were Jewish itinerant performers in Austrian Galicia, Romania, and Russia, professional or semiprofessional songwriters and performers, who from at least the early 19th century sang and danced, often in comic disguises, and who performed short one-act plays. They were often badchonim
Badchen
A badchen or badkhn is a Jewish comedian with scholarly overtones who entertained guests at weddings among the Ashkenazim of Eastern Europe...
(traditional wedding entertainers) and meshorerim (singers in cantors' choirs). They were among the first to publicly perform Yiddish-language songs outside of Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
plays and wedding parties, and were an important precursor to Yiddish theatre
Yiddish theatre
Yiddish theatre consists of plays written and performed primarily by Jews in Yiddish, the language of the Central European Ashkenazi Jewish community. The range of Yiddish theatre is broad: operetta, musical comedy, and satiric or nostalgic revues; melodrama; naturalist drama; expressionist and...
. They erected miniature stages and entertained customers in taverns, wine cellars, and restaurant gardens.
The first written records of the Broder singers are the remarks of Jews passing through Brody, which was a trading center on a major route of travel ("a stopping point on the travels of Russian Jewish merchants to and from the Leipzig fair."). These records are generally disapproving of the singing of songs when no particular occasion called for music.
Later the term Broder Singer was applied to performers who had no connection with Brody.
Among the most famous Broder singers were Berl Margulis - better known as Berl Broder
Berl Broder
Berl Broder , born Berl Margulis, was a Ukrainian Jew born in Podkamen, the most famous of the Broder singers and reputed the first to be both a singer and an actor. His nickname is the origin of the term Broder singer...
(1815–1868) - and Moyshe Prizament and his son Shloyme Prizament
Shloyme Prizament
Shloyme Prizament , Jewish composer, actor in the Yiddish theater, and badkhn, son of Moyshe Prizament ."-Early years:...
. Some of Berl Broder's original songs, along with the works of his son and grandson who continued the tradition of secular Yiddish writing, can be found in his grandson Ber Margulies' book Dray doyres̀ lider fun Berl Broder (Margulies), feliṭonen fun Yom Hatsyoni (Yitsḥaḳ Margulies), poemen un lider fun Ber Margulies (1957) (free online download from the Yiddish Book Center).