"Meine Lider" – Song Book by Mordechai Gebirtig, Inscribed by Him to Poet Jona Gruber – Krakow, 1936

"Meine Lider" – Song Book by Mordechai Gebirtig, Inscribed by Him to Poet Jona Gruber – Krakow, 1936
Meine Lider by Mordechai Gebirtig. Krakow: Gebirtig-Komitet, 1936. Yiddish.
Collection of songs by Mordechai Gebirtig, accompanied by musical scores for all the songs. The title page is inscribed: "Dem yungen talentritn dichter, chaver un freind Yonah Gruber, mit hartzikeit, M. Gebirtig" [To the young and talented poet, companion and friend, Jona Gruber, cordially, M. Gebirtig], dated: March 22, 1936, Krakow.
Poet Mordechai Gebirtig (1877-1942) one of the most important Yiddish poets in the early 20th century, the author of the poem "Our Town is Burning". Gebirtig was a carpenter by profession and, having no formal musical training, used to compose his songs while playing the piano with one finger. The songs he wrote and composed, about one hundred and sixty songs, spread among European communities and even in his lifetime became anthems of the popular Jewish culture. The present song anthology, "Meine Lider" [My Songs], was published in 1936 (the sheet music was written by Julius Hoffman and Barukh Sperber) and soon became a great success.
The recipient of the dedication is, presumably, the poet and translator Jona Gruber (1908-1980), born in Bucovina, who, during the 1930s, was a resident of Krakow and presumably became acquainted with Gebirtig during this period.
109, [2] pp. + [1] plate, approx. 24 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes. Original binding with gilt lettering, worn and slightly scuffed.