Living was now becoming much more complicated.
Moshe and Ruth then renewed their studies at the Conservatory. Moshe led them also to study Jewish music and to translate Russian songs into Hebrew and Yiddish, a musical choice that became the basis for much of their careers. Moshe later told of the beginnings of that career as follows:
In 1917, my wife, Ruth Leviash, and I were invited to participate in a concert of Jewish Music in honor of Engel, organized by the Odessa Society for Jewish Music. New songs arrived in manuscript, and Engel was expected in person. A general strike of the railroads prevented Engel from coming, and the concert was cancelled. However, we had new Engel songs this time: the third volume of folk Songs, a group of Children's songs for my wife, and his magnificent harmonizations to "Tateniu," "Oso Boker" and "Kadish." Both of us then had a full program of Engel, which we gave in Kherson for the Hazomir society, and in the Conservatory Hall in Odessa for students and teachers. It was later, in 1923-24, during our sojourn in Poland as "Yiddische Folk Songer" that we started corresponding with Engel, who was then the editor of "Juval" in Berlin. He had heard about our work in behalf of Jewish music and sent us material and his blessings. (Moshe Rudinow, 1950)
Telling of the same event, Ruth underscores the importance of Engel’s songs for their later careers, both economically and musically:
Joel Engel (called the father of Jewish music) also had planned to give a concert in Odessa. He sent manuscripts to Moshe, who spent many nights copying the songs. At the last moment Engel’s itinerary was changed and the music was returned to him. We finally met Engel eight years later, in Palestine, in 1925. However, his songs turned out to be our bread and butter. We sang them all over Poland, and wherever they were heard, they were acclaimed. Engel provided us with a beautiful repertoire of songs of the caliber of Schumann or Brahms. (Ruth Rudinow, 1)
Moshe and Ruth then renewed their studies at the Conservatory. Moshe led them also to study Jewish music and to translate Russian songs into Hebrew and Yiddish, a musical choice that became the basis for much of their careers. Moshe later told of the beginnings of that career as follows:
In 1917, my wife, Ruth Leviash, and I were invited to participate in a concert of Jewish Music in honor of Engel, organized by the Odessa Society for Jewish Music. New songs arrived in manuscript, and Engel was expected in person. A general strike of the railroads prevented Engel from coming, and the concert was cancelled. However, we had new Engel songs this time: the third volume of folk Songs, a group of Children's songs for my wife, and his magnificent harmonizations to "Tateniu," "Oso Boker" and "Kadish." Both of us then had a full program of Engel, which we gave in Kherson for the Hazomir society, and in the Conservatory Hall in Odessa for students and teachers. It was later, in 1923-24, during our sojourn in Poland as "Yiddische Folk Songer" that we started corresponding with Engel, who was then the editor of "Juval" in Berlin. He had heard about our work in behalf of Jewish music and sent us material and his blessings. (Moshe Rudinow, 1950)
Telling of the same event, Ruth underscores the importance of Engel’s songs for their later careers, both economically and musically:
Joel Engel (called the father of Jewish music) also had planned to give a concert in Odessa. He sent manuscripts to Moshe, who spent many nights copying the songs. At the last moment Engel’s itinerary was changed and the music was returned to him. We finally met Engel eight years later, in Palestine, in 1925. However, his songs turned out to be our bread and butter. We sang them all over Poland, and wherever they were heard, they were acclaimed. Engel provided us with a beautiful repertoire of songs of the caliber of Schumann or Brahms. (Ruth Rudinow, 1)
Moshe and Ruth passed their exams at the Conservatory in 1918. Ruth was awarded an Artist Diploma and a gold medal, but could not afford the latter which had to be purchased for 50 rubles. Moshe, who also passed all his exams well, did not qualify for a diploma as he had not completed high school (Jews were not admitted to public high schools and had to study privately).
As the economy disintegrated in the aftermath of war and nationalization, Moshe and Ruth were offered contracts for the Odessa Opera Company, but could not afford to accept them because the salaries offered would not even pay for food. Instead they sang concerts for “payok” -- payment in goods:
A loaf of bread, some herring, canned goods, kerosene and other items. If you didn’t bring a bottle with you, kerosene would be your loss. Once we were brought to a large vegetable farm out of town for a concert. The workers were scattered in the fields. We each received a sack of beets. It seemed fun to all of us and we were making jokes. But when the truck dropped us some distance from home and we had to drag the heavy sacks over the streets and then up three flights it was no fun any longer. Mother made borscht, which lasted and fed the family for a week. She invented several dishes to use the beets, gave them to all her neighbours and relatives, but we could not bear to hear about or see them any more for a long while.” (Ruth Rudinow, 1)
As the economy disintegrated in the aftermath of war and nationalization, Moshe and Ruth were offered contracts for the Odessa Opera Company, but could not afford to accept them because the salaries offered would not even pay for food. Instead they sang concerts for “payok” -- payment in goods:
A loaf of bread, some herring, canned goods, kerosene and other items. If you didn’t bring a bottle with you, kerosene would be your loss. Once we were brought to a large vegetable farm out of town for a concert. The workers were scattered in the fields. We each received a sack of beets. It seemed fun to all of us and we were making jokes. But when the truck dropped us some distance from home and we had to drag the heavy sacks over the streets and then up three flights it was no fun any longer. Mother made borscht, which lasted and fed the family for a week. She invented several dishes to use the beets, gave them to all her neighbours and relatives, but we could not bear to hear about or see them any more for a long while.” (Ruth Rudinow, 1)
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