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Fran Kleiner Releases Her First CD Of Traditional Yiddish
and Popular Folk Songs (1999-2001)

Yiddish culture and music has been a part of Frances Kleiner’s life since she was a little girl growing up in Brooklyn as the oldest of four children of Eastern European immigrant parents. The Elkins Park resident has continued the traditions through the singing of Jewish and Yiddish melodies for children and adults of all ages. She is more than a singer; she tells the story behind the song, its historical and cultural context, significance and symbolism and provides the translation, so youngsters as well as others also learn history while learning to sing the song. People are exposed to the life experiences of the Jewish people in the time period of the song. And, when she begins to sing, a smile comes to her face, and her warmth, obvious enthusiasm and love of the music is infectious and people readily join her in singing.

Finally, at age 73, Fran, whose melodious voice still captivates audiences, has released a CD/cassette, A Fire Glows, Yiddish Songs Recorded Live at The Mermaid Inn. There are 19 songs covering 60 minutes, with all the songs translated into English. The venture has a Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill connection. In addition to being recorded at The Mermaid Inn, the producer is folksinger Tom Gala of Mt. Airy; his wife, Janet Gala, designed the insert; and Michael Kleiner of Mt. Airy is handling publicity and designed a web site (http://www.franmusic.com). Morningstar Studios of Spring House did the live remote recording, editing and mastering. Renowned artist Sam Maitin painted the cover.

When he first saw Fran perform, Tom Gala was captivated and knew she should record. “Fran is a natural,” he says. “When she sings, she lights up, and then the audience lights up.”

Ken Ulansey, the multi-talented Philadelphia-area musician, has occasionally asked Fran on the spur of the moment to join him on stage. “Fran brings joy and vitality to the Yiddish repertoire,” says Ulansey of Elkins Park. “Her personal charisma delights audiences and she brings the same warmth of her feelings to wherever she sings, as if she was singing at one of her family’s simchas (celebrations).”

For more than 30 years, Fran has taught at The Jewish Childrens’ Folkshul (which meets Sundays at Germantown Friends School), involving students from pre-school to teenagers – as well as the adult community – in the singing of Jewish, Yiddish, Hebrew and popular folk songs. “Fran's gifts are her beautiful voice and infectious warmth -- she so obviously loves her music!” says fellow Folkshul music teacher Art Miron of Mt. Airy. “The kids and adults alike love her songs and can often be heard humming and singing the Yiddish melodies. Fran is one of our living treasures!”

Fran has worked on music curriculum development not only at the Folkshul, but at all schools and agencies where she has worked. In addition, Fran led workshops and inservice training on the use of Yiddish music in the classroom and school-wide celebrations at the conferences of the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations of North America. Since 1967, Fran has performed in many cultural and holiday programs of the Sholom Aleichem Club of Philadelphia.

“Fran Kleiner has, over the years, brought enlightenment and joy to CSJO by both her intelligence and her wonderful singing,” said Rifke Feinstein, Executive Director of CSJO.

“Fran Kleiner’s rendition of Yiddish songs is authentic,” comments Jack Rosenfeld of The Sholom Aleichem Club. “She knows the Yiddish language, its idioms and its colloquialisms. She sings pure Mameloshen. Equally important is the fact that Fran’s voice has a beautiful quality for singing Yiddish folksongs and art songs. Her renditions are pure Yiddishkeit. She has made a unique contribution to our “Goldene Pave” (Golden Peacock) programs of poetry, prose, humor and song, and has been a mainstay in our holiday observances.”

“Fran Kleiner is an important purveyor of Yiddish song,” adds the Club’s Bess Katz. “Her Yiddish is authentic, her voice a real pleasure to listen to, her repertoire boundless. Her programs give much joy to her audiences.”

Fran was Branch Director of The Stiffel Senior Center of the Jewish Community Centers of Philadelphia from 1977-90, where in addition to her normal responsibilities, she often sang for the members at luncheons and Center affairs.

Early reviews of the CD have been positive. Mike Sherman, Host of Rejuvenating Heritage on KEOS, 89.1FM in Bryan, TX has played excerpts on the air. “...It’s a fantastic album,” he says. “I love her voice; it rings so true, and you feel her love of the music, and the joy of sharing this love. I will feature her again in the future...”

Ari Davidow on his The Klezmer Shack web site, wrote: “...Her voice and her explanations of the songs are very refreshing, very genuine. I haven’t enjoyed folky Yiddish singing this much since I last heard Gerry Tenney and Betty Albert Schreck back in California. The album opens with the familiar Der Yid der schmid and runs through familiar and unfamiliar songs, ranging from the Partisaner Lid to Oyfn Pripetshik and even Fisher Lid which the Klezmatics do somewhat differently. I’ve been overwhelmed with pretty Yiddish singing on CDs lately. This is pleasantly different, and much easier to keep listening to. This is a real Yiddish family album, but also a good album to listen to just at those moments when you wish your family were around.”

Paula Kirman, Producer and Guide of the best World Music site on the Internet wrote: “Yiddish-language folk songs are an important part of Jewish music. Fran Kleiner has been keeping the tradition alive...Full of energy and accompanied only by her guitar, Kleiner’s voice reveals little of the fact that she is in her seventies! The album’s liner notes include English explanations of all of the songs, in addition to her reparte between songs to her audience.”

Cynthia McGroarty, reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer Montgomery County and Bucks County Neighbors section: “Born in Brooklyn...Fran Kleiner learned to love two things: speaking Yiddish and singing...On the CD, Kleiner performs solo, playing guitar and singing with all the conviction of a true folk minstrel. Her selections are a mix of children’s songs, love songs, and work and protest songs. They cover the range of human experience and feeling, including homesickness, love and stories about fishermen and blacksmiths.”

A purchaser in Houston, Texas says the CD has enhanced his learning of Yiddish. “It was positively wonderful; especially, because I need to learn these songs, and Fran sang them so clearly that I was able to catch and understand every single word! She has really made a contribution to my level of Yiddish cultural literacy.”