The Sound Archive houses over 20,000 recordings (including 78, 45, and 33 rpm discs, open-reel and cassette tapes, piano rolls, and compact discs) as well as various artifacts related to sound recordings. It is is one of the most extensive and frequently consulted Jewish music collections in the world.
The Sound Archive embraces all musical genres, including Yiddish and Hebrew folk music, pop music, theater music, Holocaust songs, liturgical music, choral music, instrumental compositions, children’s songs, holiday songs, and Klezmer music. In addition to music, the Sound Archive stewards a collection of spoken word recordings, oral histories, interviews, radio programs, and field recordings.
The collection includes unique test recordings never released by the record companies that made them, as well as the only known surviving examples of some released recordings.
In addition to serving researchers, the Sound Archive is embedded in the Yiddish music world, and has close relationships with many musicians who utilize its resources in creating their art. It serves anyone seeking to include Yiddish music in their life or work, including teachers, journalists, camp counselors, radio producers, and more.
