Lazar Weiner (1897-1982) is considered the father and consummate master of the Yiddish art song; in the course of 60 years he composed more than 200. Born in the Ukraine, he became a synagogue choir-boy at age nine and studied piano and theory at Kiev Conservatory, while getting acquainted with both Western and Russian music. He emigrated to New York in 1914, played piano for silent movies and vocal coaches, and conducted community orchestras and secular Jewish choruses. Making friends with Yiddish poets and writers led to his fascination with Jewish music and the discovery of the Yiddish song. This album's 32 songs are representative of his work. Continuing the romantic Lied tradition, he melded text and music and made the pianist an equal collaborator. Indeed, his piano parts' textural variety and predominantly impressionist style are among the songs' most striking characteristics. Another influence was Mussorgsky, whose vocal writing arises directly from the rhythms and inflections of speech. Thus, several of Weiner's most dramatic, narrative songs sound like half-spoken recitatives. Almost all the songs are in minor keys; most are melancholy, mournful, yearning, nostalgic. But there are also two witty "Humoresques," several touching love songs (written for his wife), tender lullabies, and prayers both devout and despairing. The performers, who include Weiner's pianist son and soprano daughter-in-law, are uniformly excellent and totally committed. --Edith Eisler