SEPHARDIC MUSIC:
A CENTURY OF RECORDINGS
Gramophone 14-12036
Number: 14-12036
Artist: Ovanes Efendi
Matrix: 2330 y
Song Title: Si nome Amaras
Language: Ladino(?)
Comments: "Si nome (Onomazetai) Amaros" from log sheet. "Evreico si nome Amaras
(Spanish)" from Aylward,
Recorded: Between 15-19 December 1911
Where recorded: Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey
Note: There is considerable question whether this
is a Ladino or Greek selection. It is listed in a Greek Gramophone
catalog as "Si nome Arnaras" by Lefteris. It is listed in the Gramophone
logsheet as transcribed by Alan Kelly as "Si nome (Onomazetai) Amaros" and as "Evreico
si nome Amaras (Spanish) by my colleague Michael Aylward. (Spanish in this
context usually means a Judeo-Spanish song of Sephardic origin.) I have never
seen any other Sephardic song listed in Greek; instead Hebrew or Latin
characters are used. So there is uncertainty about the artist, and whether the
recording is in Greek or Ladino. Finding the record will resolve the artist
question, and actually hearing it will solve the language mystery.
Coupled with (a non-Sephardic song)
Listing Source: Aylward; Strötbaum (from logbooks)
Date Source: Strötbaum
Engineer: A S Clarke