Sing Her Songs: Sharing Flory Jagoda’s Music in Your Community

Susan Gaeta developed and completed this program a few months before our beloved Flory passed away on January 29, 2021. This program is a celebration in memory of Flory Jagoda, the “Keeper of the Flame” of Sephardic music. 


Music From a Living Tradition

“I arrived in America as a war bride in 1946 with a suitcase full of memories, both good memories as well as some ugly ones. So many of us who survived the Holocaust had one thing in common – our silence. However, as we grew older, we began to feel the need to share our pain and also our many happy memories with the world. I poured my memories into songs. This is where my whole family has gone – into my songs. My family were all incredibly musical and they all loved to sing, so the best thing to do is to make sure that this music continues.” – Flory Jagoda

Read more about Flory’s amazing story HERE

To donate to the Flory Jagoda Sephardic Music Fund, click HERE

Classical and traditional musicians use written music very differently. Classical scores include everything you need to play the piece, but to play traditional music, the score is just the beginning.

READ THIS FIRST to understand more about the music we play and love.

The program includes lessons with sheet music and play- (and sing)-along-guides from Susan in the following order:

  • Buena Semana
  • Ocho Kandelikas
  • Hanuka Hanuka
  • Beza La Mezuza
  • La Kreasyon
  • Buen Shabat
  • La Biraha de la Mujer
  • Pesah Ala Mano
  • Yehi Ratzones
  • Diya de Purim

Buena Semana


In this video: Virginia Folklife Stage, Richmond Folk Festival, 2012
Video Masters: Pat Jarrett

Additional recordings of Buena Semana:
Susan Gaeta: From Her Nona’s Drawer
Minnush: Minnush
Flory Jagoda: Kantikas Di Mi Nona

For Buena Semana sheet music, click here

Ocho Kandelikas


In this video: The Prism, Charlottesville, VA, 2003
Video Masters: Abby Sternberg

Additional recording of Ocho Kandelikas:
Flory Jagoda: Kantikas Di Mi Nona

For Ocho Kandelikas sheet music, click here
(there are 2 versions, in Am and Dm)


Hanuka Hanuka


In this video: Washington DC Revels, “Andalusian Treasures”, 2011

Additional recordings of Hanuka Hanuka:
Trio Sefardi: Sefardic Celebration
Flory Jagoda: La Nona Kanta

For Hanuka Hanuka sheet music, click here

Beza La Mezuza


Video Masters: Abby Sternberg, 1997
Guitar+Vocals: Elliot Jagoda; Percussion+Vocals: Lori Jagoda Lowell

Additional recording of Beza La Mezuza:
Flory Jagoda: La Nona Kanta

For Beza La Mezuza sheet music, click here

La Kreasyon


In this video: Flory Jagoda: “Arvoliko”
Guitar: Howard Bass; Recorders: Scott Reiss + Tina Chancey; Bass: Alan Oresky

For La Kreasyon sheet music, click here

Buen Shabat


Video Masters: Abby Sternberg, 1997
Guitar+Vocals: Elliot Jagoda; Percussion+Vocals: Lori Jagoda Lowell

Additional recording of Buen Shabat:
Flory Jagoda: La Nona Kanta

For Buen Shabat sheet music, click here

La Biraha de la Mujer


In this video: Flory Jagoda: “Arvoliko”
Virginia Humanities, Video: Jon Lohman
Susan Gaeta + Almeta Ingram-Miller

Additional recordings of La Biraha De La Mujer:
Susan Gaeta: From Her Nona’s Drawer
UVA Bicentennial Celebration

For La Biraha de la Mujer sheet music, click here
(there are 2 versions, regular and simplified)


Pesah Ala Mano


Video Masters: Abby Sternberg
Guitar+Vocals: Howard Bass, Susan Gaeta, Ramon Tasat;
Percussion+Vocals: Lori Jagoda Lowell, Betsy Cary, Joanne Stefanick;
Mandolin: Joel Leonard, Lynn Falk, Alan Oresky

Additional recordings of Pesah Ala Mano:
Susan Gaeta: From Her Nona’s Drawer
Minnush: Minnush
Flory Jagoda: Kantikas Di Mi Nona
Trio Sefardi: La Yave d’Espanya

For Pesah Ala Mano sheet music, click here

Yehi Ratzones


In this video: Flory Jagoda + Ramon Tasat: “Kantikas de Amor i Vida”

Additional recording of Yehi Ratzones:
Trio Sefardi: Sefardic Celebration (New Year’s Prayer)

For Yehi Ratzones sheet music, click here
(there are 2 versions, in D and G)


Diya de Purim


In this video: Flory Jagoda: “Memories of Sarajevo”

Additional recordings of Diya de Purim:
Trio Sefardi: Sefardic Celebration
Susan Gaeta: From Her Nona’s Drawer

For Diya de Purim sheet music, click here


Links to More Sephardic Music

Here are some Sephardic music recordings that run the gamut from traditional (Flory Jagoda and Trio Sefardi) to innovative (Susan Gaeta and Minnush). 

FLORY JAGODA

Songs of my Grandmother, Memories of Sarajevo

Arvoliko

La Nona Kanta

Kantikas de Amor y Vida


TRIO SEFARDI: Sefardic Celebration, Kaminos, La Yave d’Espanya


SUSAN GAETA: From her Nona’s Drawer


MINNUSH: Minnush


Send Support

If you liked the program and would like to support Susan directly in future projects, please consider sending a contribution. Thank you.



Acknowledgments

Project Publication: Winter 2021

Executive Producer: Susan Gaeta

Videographer + Video/Web Design: Charles Lantz

Co –Producer/Transcribing: Tina Chancey

Video digitizing: Jim Robeson

Song Introductions: Betty Jagoda Murphy

Music score consultants: Gina Sobel, Howard Bass, Mike Sobel, Russell Nadel

Performance Footage: Abby Sternberg-Video Masters; Pat Jarrett-Virginia Humanities Folklife, Washington DC Revels

Thanks to all of the performers: Howard Bass, Lori Jagoda Lowell, Elliot Jagoda, Scott Reiss, Tina Chancey, Betsy Cary, Alan Oresky, Lynn Falk, Joel Leonard, Joanne Stefanick, Ramon Tasat

We lovingly remember Elliot Jagoda, Betsy Cary and Scott Reiss who brought so much life and joy to Flory’s music.

Special thanks to the Virginia Folklife Program at VA Humanities for their funding, and to directors Jon Lohman and Pat Jarrett for their support. Thanks to Tina Chancey for her invaluable knowledge, patience, and expertise. I especially want to thank Charles Lantz, whose creativity, skill, and sense of humor helped me create this wonderful program and thoroughly enjoy the process.

Love to Flory Jagoda, my mentor and partner on this journey. I hope these songs become a part of the continuation she held so dear. -Susan Gaeta

May her story and songs live on.