Dear safranim, I'm trying to find out when/how/by whom the song "Dona, Dona," became linked with the Holocaust, often in the context of Yom Ha-Shoah commemorations. I have found in Pearls of Yiddish Song, by Eleanor Gordon Mlotek and Joseph Mlotek, the following introduction:
DONA, DONA. Words by Aarons Zeitlin, music by Sholom Secunda, published in sheet music by Metro Musci, 1943; Originally entitled "Dana, dana, dana," the song was written for Zeitlin's play, Esterke, produced by Maurice Schwartz in 1940-1, and printed in the program. It became one of the most widely sung Yiddish songs and was performed in Yiddish and English translation by Theodore Bikel, Joan Baez and others....In some collections, beginning with Ben Yomen's (1946), the words are erroneously attributed to Yitskhok Katzenelson, Hebrew-Yiddish poet active in the Warsaw Ghetto ungerground. In a recent record produced in Germany, not only is the song attributed to Katzenelson, it is also interpreted as having been written in the Ghetto to express Jews' longing for freedom. And, I found the emails, (which I've excerpted) below, by doing a Google search. Although these both provide lots of info, they don't directly address my patron's question. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Ann Abrams, Librarian Temple Israel 477 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02215 617-566-3960 x116 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.tisrael.org <http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele/vol05/vol05.229>http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele/vol05/vol05.229 David Jacobs is looking for the original Yiddish words to "Dona". You're right David, the song comes from the Yiddish theatre and here are the original Yiddish words, the title of the play and the name of the author. Aaron Zeltlin (1889-1973) wrote the words, Sholom Secunda (1894-1974) the music and the sheet music was published by Metro Music Co., New York, 1943. The song, originally "Dana, dana, dana," was written for Zeltlin's play "Esterke," produced by Maurice Schwartz, 1940-41. It was printed in the program, enabling it to become one of the most widely sung Yiddish songs. Yiddish and English translations were performed by Theodore Bikel, Joan Baez and others. German and Korean translations have also appeared. In some collections the words are erroneously attributed to Yitshok Katzeneison, Hebrew-Yiddish poet active in the Warsaw Ghetto underground. Marcia Gruss Levinsohn 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jan 96 21:23:01 IST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Dona Dona The song is not from the Yiddish theatre at all but was written by a fine Yiddish poet called Aharon Zeitlin, who came to New York in 1939 to the World's Fair and was trapped by the war. His family, including his father Hillel - a famous Jewish philosopher recognized by the Polish academic world - were all killed in the Shoah. Adah Lappin Netanya, Israel Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
