Hi Meta -- I thought you'd like to see this.

Bob Berkman wrote to me:

> Dear Larry:
> 
> My colleague Ann Jones brought to my attention your questions about
> Jewish rolls on the MMD.  I'm probably the "Mr. Berkowitz" you
> referred to -- not the owner, but the chief operating officer of QRS.
> 
> I've been working on several Jewish roll projects for sometime, but 
> it is premature to announce these as of yet.  It is truly a niche of
> a niche of a niche market!
> 
> I have a copy of a QRS Jewish roll bulletin (in Yiddish) from the
> early 20's which I will be happy to share with you and the Billings
> (could you let them know?)  Let me have your address.
> 
> For my project, I would love to be able to survey the Jewish rolls
> other collectors have so I can select the best versions.  For example,
> I prefer the QRS version of "Di Griene Cosina" to the Connorized
> version.  Can you send me a list of what you have?
> 
> One roll I haven't been able to locate yet is QRS 7669, "My Little
> Cousin", which was sort of a "swing" version of "Di Griene Cosina".
> Do you know of a copy?
> 
> Regarding lyrics printed on these rolls, I have never seen any printed
> in Hebrew letters, though it is not impossible; I have seen QRS German
> rolls printed with the old gothic German type !  All the Hebrew and
> Yiddish lyrics I've seen are transliterated, and perhaps by persons
> unfamiliar with the languages -- there are numerous errors and
> inconsistencies.
> 
> I look forward to hearing from you.
> 
> Shalom.
> 
> Bob Berkman
> QRS
> 

Larry Greenfield, Southern California     musicbox@ix.netcom.com


 [ Larry, it looks like you have a good, active project now (or maybe
 [ it has _you_ !),  and it sounds like QRS might help, too.  Perhaps
 [ the collectors would make cassette recordings of their rolls for
 [ you and/or Bob Berkman to audition.  (Do you also want singing?  ;)
 [ -- Robbie