DESCRIPTION:
According to Jewish mystical tradition, the "zaddikim nostrum" (hidden saints) are thirty-six righteous ones, present in every generation, for whose sake the world is preserved. It is told that one such man, kind, humble and quick to laugh, made a living in the mid-19th century as an itinerant faith healer and storyteller. He meandered on his two-hourse wagon throughout the vast, windswept steppes of southern Ukraine, through towns and villages of Novorossia and Tavria, all the way to the shores of the Black Sea. Jews and Gentiles alike, adventurous and resilient people who lived in these territories newly acquired by the Russian Empire, flocked to him to rid themselves, through the help of his miracolous amulets, of all the troubles and sorrows that burdened them. On small squares of yellowed parchment, he would write just two Hebrew letters, het and yod, which formed the word for "living" and equalled the number 18. Such an amulet had the power to ward off any evil and bring health, happiness and long life to anybody lucky enough to possess one. Even more fortunate were the people who heard his wondrous tales, which he frequently interrupted with a sacred song or an ecstatic dance. His stories taught men how to live through the most trying moments of their lives with abounding joy, for joy in every living thing is considered the highest form of worship. Every tree, stone and blade of grass in these tales contained a spark of the living Soul. Since all acts spoke to God, breathing, eating, walking and every single part of living was accomplished with purpose, fervor and joy.
His words, just like those of his great predecessor, the Baal Shem Tov, had an appealing clarity that directly entered the hearts of the simple folk. Strangely, no one was ever able to record his stories because the black ink would instantly vanish as soon as it touched the paper. Memories of them, however, were miraculously preserved and transformed into beautiful tunes in the minds and souls of "klezmorim" from the Southern steppes. Their instruments told all who could hear, how to laugh through tears and, despite all odds, find true joy in this World of ours filled with sorrow and beauty and wonder.
May Klezmerata's musical recounting of these tales, like the amulets of the hidden zaddik, bring good fortune, serenity and happiness into your life.

Tracks on video (description):

Tales of a hidden Zaddik: A musical version of imaginary tales told by an imaginary, saintly storyteller as he travelled through the steppes of southern Ukraine in the mid-nineteenth century. 

1. Magic wagon: Two friendly horses pull the Zaddik's wonder-wagon through the unending steppes toward the boundless sky .

From the Stories of the Lost Bride:
2. Bride's welcome
The Bride is greeted by welcome music. Her apparition here, as in all of the following stories, spurs the Zaddik into a joyous, ecstatic dance. 

3. Zaddik's night
The Zaddik’s weak flickering light from his fire is almost lost in the vast darkness of the southern steppes, but his thoughts span infinite space and time in search of the Lost Bride. 

4.Theodosia
He sees the Bride on the shores of the Black Sea, in the ancient Crimean port city of Kafa-Theodosia.  Threatened by the Tartar pirates, the Bride is enveloped in magical sea mist as a result of the Zaddik's intervention . Stormy waves dance in celebration. 

To Istanbul and back:
5. Bre Sarica
The road to the Holy Land, the destination of all the righteous, passes through Istanbul. But the Zaddik is not allowed to proceed and must turn back. This Sephardic Jewish tune accompanies his wandering south towards the border. 

Visions of the southern steppes
6. Harvesters' dance
The grain harvesters’ rhythmical movements appear to the Zaddik as those of fancy dancers under the sun’s burning rays.

7. An old chumak song
A Cossack woman awaits her husband who went with salt traders, chumaks, down into the land of the Tartars. Will he return?

8.Dance of the southern wind
Eternal and restless, the wind sweeps through the ancient steppes, but gives no answers. 

9. Yoshke's leaving 
An old Yiddish folk song. 
The train is about to carry a young lad, Yoshke, off to the Tsar's army for 25 years. His bride hopes for a last kiss.

10. Lament
An old, ceremonial wedding tune, traditionally played by unaccompanied violin for the orphan bride.

11. Train of life
A famous tune from Odessa (7:40)
The Train of Life has departed and races ever faster. Will we manage to catch it? Must try!

12. The Heisser Bulgar
Klezmerata's homage to this American Klezmer classic.

Igor Polesitsky - violin
Riccardo Crocilla - clarinet
Francesco Furlanich - accordion
Riccardo Donati - double bass


© Igor Polesitsky and Klezmerata Fiorentina.

More info on:
www.klezmeratafiorentina.com