I encountered Adrienne at the old YIVO when I first got drawn into Yiddish culture studies in the early 1970s. It was quite the circle of smart, dedicated, and knowledgeable people, many of whom have gone on to real stature in the field. But Adrienne was different-- she was the one who SANG, not just at gatherings, but all over the place, wherever it was either a good idea or a brave new idea to embody that amazing wellspring of songs. There really were not many people like this in those days, particularly ones imbued with the sense of both artistry and social justice that Adrienne brought to her projects. As I recently wrote in a talk I haven't yet delivered, Adrienne was both in a lineage and started a new one. Thanks in part to her efforts, that line will keep on unfolding, but without her expressive, dedicated, and even passionate participation--it's a real loss.
I encountered Adrienne at the old YIVO when I first got drawn into Yiddish culture studies in the early 1970s. It was quite the circle of smart, dedicated, and knowledgeable people, many of whom have gone on to real stature in the field. But Adrienne was different-- she was the one who SANG, not just at gatherings, but all over the place, wherever it was either a good idea or a brave new idea to embody that amazing wellspring of songs. There really were not many people like this in those days, particularly ones imbued with the sense of both artistry and social justice that Adrienne brought to her projects. As I recently wrote in a talk I haven't yet delivered, Adrienne was both in a lineage and started a new one. Thanks in part to her efforts, that line will keep on unfolding, but without her expressive, dedicated, and even passionate participation--it's a real loss.