Ver hot aza yingele

Ver Hot Aza Yingele? (Who has such a son?) is a 3-minute, lively, joyful folk song of Eastern Jewish origin. Full of pride, the mother sings a hymn of gratitude for her own child, who is, of course, the best child of all! Polina Shepherd's arrangement for solo voice, SATB and piano adds authentic Yiddish ornamentation to the characteristic simple song melody.

This creates a kind of onomatopoeia in the solo and choral parts a sort of notated improvisation that should be felt with metrical freedom. Even for choral singers unfamiliar with Klezmer, this arrangement gives the opportunity to become wonderfully engaged with the style and - like the mother with her Yingele - will be richly rewarded.