נפטר געווארען דער גרויסער מנגן ר' בנציון שענקער ע"ה

I too was lucky enough that my choshuv'e father zg"z raised us with Modzitzer nigunnim as well as Reb Ben Zion's own tapes. The ones he made in Eretz Yisroel on the cheap. And I try to pass that over to my children, as much as that's possible...I was surprised to see, however, that the levaya was not as well attended as it should be. But that's another story. I guess people didn't know or were just too busy. Agudah convention and all...I never did attend one of his זיצען, at least that I can remember. He has a great zechus and Modzitz probably owes their existence to him. Anyway, so we'll do what we try and do here at Circus Tent, we'll try and bring something unique. First two pictures of RBZS receiving a dollar from the Lubavitcher Rebbe זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע on 2 Cheshvan 5751. Then we bring you 2 recordings - possibly unknown - of RBZS singing at different ocassions. I believe the Modzitzer Rebbe Reb Shmuel Elya (d. 5744) is also heard on the first second recording (named: Modzitz Fastag) as well as the baal menagen Fastag. Those who are a bissel bakant with Modzitzer Niggunim will recognize that some of the shtiklach that were composed - or at least recorded - for one piyut are interchanged here. One example is ובשופר גדול sung here for melava malka zemiros.

Tuesday Links n' stuff

Loitzker Rebbe visits "Schneersohn Library" in Moscow


 This recording is somewhat of a novelty, being that RBZS sings it at a very slow pace, as well as inserts some very unique chazzonus shtiklach. Almost as if he were trying to "improve" on the piece. Make it more appealing, if you will. Something we never hear from him. If you have 27 minutes to spare, listen. Or just let it run in the background while you "work."

UPDATE: SUNDAY 3/15/2015. THE CLIP HAS BEEN REMOVED. ASK ME WHY IN THE COMMENTS, IF YOU SO PLEASE.

Hershel Taub's Bar Mitzvah

Hershel Taub's Bar Mitzvah in Vancouver, 1950
The passing of Hershel Taub, son of Reb Shaul Yedidye of Modzitz (d.1947)
Hershel was a young child of ten when his father passed away. Rabbi Ginsberg married the ex-Modzitzer Rebbetzin, daughter of Reb Yechezkel of Ozherov, brother of Reb Yisroel of Modzitz, who then moved to Vancouver. She was not married to the Modzitzer when he passed away. Notice how the Rebbetzin spoke at the Bar Mitzvah as well! She passed away in 5727

Rabbi Ginsberg. Source
More on Modzitz (Yiddish)

NPR discovers Reb Benzion Shenker

  The show includes a clip (never before heard?) of Reb Benzion singing as a young lad in 1938!