Music in the Polish-Jewish Theatre in the First Decades of the 20^th Century in the Light of Surviving Sources

Abstract The article presents the few surviving documents concerning incidental music to Polish-Jewish plays performed on Polish stages in first decades of 20 th century (until 1939). This kind theatre was constitute a space for dialogue between Jewish and communities. idea its creators reject existing, usually negative, way presenting Jews as well show authentic life — customs, rituals, dances stage. A breakthrough both these areas came with so-called Gabriela Zapolska Małka Szwarcenkopf Jojne Firułkes . then developed by Marek Arnsztajn (Andrzej Marek). Referring sources (scores press reviews notes directors’ copies scripts), author analyses two performances , musical appendix version An-ski’s Dybbuk published 1922. analysis seeks capture composers’ specific ideas discover their inspiration. second objective present cultural background against which evolved.