Badchen

A Badchan ( Yiddish Badchen, of Aramaic בדח, " cheer ", Pl Badchonim ), comparable to a ballad singer, was an entertainment musicians in the Jewish environment.

In Ashkenazi Judaism, he has far beyond the Middle Ages addition, especially still in Poland and Ukraine, get up to the time immediately before the Holocaust. He was occasional poet and improviser who often also wrote the melodies to his songs.

His most distinguished field of activity was the Jewish Wedding, when he delivered his songs and at the same time as a kind of master of ceremonies and master of ceremonies acted ( called in this function Marschalik ).

Known Badchonim were Berl Broder, Welwel Zbarzer or Eliakum Zunser.

Literature (selection )

• Jewish Encyclopedia, Berlin, 1927, Vol I, Sp 678

• Folk singer
• Occupation ( cabaret )
• Historical profession
• Wedding custom
• Jewish Culture