Playing Poetry - Ania Bukstein sings White Days by Leah Goldberg

The long summer days led author Leah Goldberg to write one of her loveliest poems, White Days. For the end of summer and the beginning of the New Year, we would like to share a new version of this popular song, with Ania Bukstein and the orchestra.

Eighty-nine years ago, in June 1932, the poem White Days was published. The author was a doctoral candidate in literature at Bonn University named Leah Goldberg. Over forty years later, in 1975, the poem was set to music by Shlomo Ydov, and has since been performed in many versions and arrangements. In 2017, the 100 New Israeli Shekel bill was decorated with Goldberg’s portrait and the opening words of the poem. In 2018, the original manuscript of the poem was discovered and displayed at the National Library in Jerusalem.

The loneliness expressed in the poem is subject to interpretation. Does the speaker reconcile herself with it, or does she experience disappointment and emptiness? Is the loneliness a serene and calm safe haven, or perhaps harsh and painful?

Leah Goldberg, one of the most prominent and singular voices in Hebrew poetry, wrote plays, prose and children’s books that became staples (“A Room for Rent”, “The Scatterbrained Man from Kfar Azar”, “My Friend from Arnon Street” and others), and translated the great literary masterpieces, including those by Shakespeare, Molière, Tolstoy and Ibsen.

For twenty years, Goldberg taught literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In 1970, she was named the Israel Prize recipient in Literature. Leah Goldberg died of cancer shortly afterwards, and her mother received the prize on her behalf.

In the 46 years since White Days was set to music by Shlomo Ydov, it has been arranged for both vocal and instrumental ensembles, and has been performed by many well-known Israeli singers, including the composer himself.

White Days
Singer: Ania Bukstein
Music: Shlomo Yidov
Lyrics: Leah Goldberg
Conductor: Guy Feder
Arrangement: Ilan Mochiach


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White, long days, like the summer sun-rays. 
Vast serene loneliness across the river. 
Windows are wide open to the silent blue. 
Straight and high bridges between yesterday and tomorrow. 
 
So easy it is to bear your silence, white and empty days 
For my eyes have learned to smile, and have ceased long ago 
To hasten the race of the thin lines on the clock. 
Straight and high bridges between yesterday and tomorrow. 
 
My heart is used to itself and paces itself slowly. 
And to the soft sweet rhythm it reconciles, gives in and relaxes, 
Like a baby singing its own lullaby before closing its eyes, 
Once the tired mother has stopped singing and has fallen asleep. 

My heart is used to itself and paces itself slowly. 
And to the soft sweet rhythm it reconciles, gives in and relaxes, 
Like a baby singing its own lullaby before closing its eyes, 
Once the tired mother has stopped singing and has fallen asleep. 

White, long days, like the summer sun-rays. 
Vast serene loneliness across the river. 
Windows are wide open to the silent blue. 
Straight and high bridges between yesterday and tomorrow. 

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English Translation: Tal Rockman
‪Director of Photography & Creative: Dror Heller‬
‪Sound: Rafi Eshel, Yaron Aldema, Zohar Zaltz - Eshel Sound Studios‬
‪Light Designer: Ronen Najar‬
‪Light Programmer: Matti Murray‬
‪P.A: Yoav Atzmon‬
‪Animation: Gavriel Izaky‬

‪#‬AnyaBuxtein‪ #‬WhiteDays‪ #PlayingPoetry