On Saturday 4th May, Simcha – Lincoln’s Klezmer band – will perform their documentary concert ‘Kindertransport’ in Ordsall Parish Hall (Church Lane, DN22 7TU).
An evening of two distinct halves, the first Kindertransport half is a moving audiovisual experience, telling the story of the 1938 rescue of thousands of children from Nazi-occupied Europe. The UK took in nearly 10,000 mostly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Specially commissioned music and contemporary tunes add to the poignancy of this extraordinary achievement.
Part Two is Simcha in concert. ’Simcha’ is a Yiddish word meaning ‘celebration’ and this eight-piece band plays lively dance tunes and heart-rending melodies from everyday life from Jewish Europe (think Fiddler on The Roof).
This genre is known as ‘Klezmer’ – from the Yiddish Klezmerim, meaning itinerant musicians. Handed down by oral tradition and played across eastern Europe from Russia to the Baltic and Balkan countries, this secular music also made its way to the USA where it became absorbed into the New York jazz scene.
There is a licensed bar, refreshments and disabled parking.
Tickets cost £15.00 (including refreshments), under 17s £6.50, carers free. They are available from from Peter and Shirley Thomas on 01777 706433 or 07951 253343, or thomas_peterf@hotmail.com.