A Return to the Musicians Who Came in from the Cold

Podcast: Click Here
Host: Dina Temple-Raston
Episode: 194
Release Date: December 24, 2024

Introduction: Unveiling a Hidden Cold War Story

In Episode 194, titled "A Return to the Musicians Who Came in from the Cold," Dina Temple-Raston of Click Here delves into an extraordinary tale from the mid-1980s. This story centers on four members of a Boston-based klezmer ensemble who undertook a perilous mission to the Soviet Union, leveraging their musical talents to smuggle secret information. The episode intertwines themes of courage, artistry, and espionage, offering listeners a gripping glimpse into the clandestine operations that shaped the digital and political landscapes of the Cold War era.

The Klezmer Ensemble and the Phantom Orchestra

Timestamp: [00:02] – [03:58]

The narrative begins in 1985 Soviet Russia under Mikhail Gorbachev's nascent reforms, glasnost and perestroika. Despite these hints of openness, the Soviet Union remained oppressive, with defections and KGB surveillance commonplace.

Dina Temple-Raston introduces Meryl Goldberg, a music professor at Cal State San Marcos and a member of the renowned Klezmer Conservatory Band. Meryl explains:

“It's secular music, and if you've heard Fiddler on the Roof, it's kind of in that style, but more authentic.”
[01:27]

Meryl recounts how her ensemble learned about the Phantom Orchestra, a group of Soviet refusenik musicians striving for freedom:

“So we first heard of the Phantom Orchestra through the network of people who were working in the ‘80s, trying to help people escape from the Soviet Union.”
[01:57]

These four musicians, known as refuseniks, faced severe repercussions for their desire to emigrate, including job termination and physical abuse. The ensemble saw an opportunity to aid them by covertly transporting information through music.

Crafting Coded Messages in Music

Timestamp: [04:26] – [08:32]

Inspired by historical figures like Josephine Baker, who used her performances to relay intelligence during World War II, Meryl and her band devised a method to embed messages within their music. Meryl elaborates on the technical aspects:

“You know, with the regular notes, you only have A through G. So then you have the problem of 26 letters with, you know, only eight notes. Although what I did without giving it away was I created a situation using chromatics.”
[07:29]

She demonstrates a snippet on her saxophone, illustrating how coded messages could be seamlessly integrated into compositions:

“Here, I'll play a little bit for you.”
[08:19]

This innovative use of musical notation allowed them to encode comprehensive messages without arousing suspicion, as the music appeared as modern compositions to any casual listener.

Journey to Moscow: Challenges and Suspicion

Timestamp: [08:43] – [12:12]

The band's preparation involved extensive training in tradecraft provided by the Action for Soviet Jewry. Upon arrival in Moscow, they immediately encountered suspicion:

“And we get off the plane, people are talking in little, little microphones. And we think, uh, oh, uh, oh.”
[09:19]

Hank Isnetsky, another band member, describes their ordeal at the airport:

“There were at least two of them. And they took us aside.”
[09:32]

Despite a thorough search of their belongings, including Meryl's music, they were eventually allowed to leave the airport after seven tense hours:

“They just hand it right back to me. Oh, it was just really fantastic.”
[10:15]

However, they quickly realized they were being followed, leading to heightened vigilance and cautious movements throughout Moscow.

Connecting with the Phantom Orchestra

Timestamp: [12:12] – [16:52]

Navigating the Soviet streets under surveillance, the ensemble used their encoded musical directions to locate the Phantom Orchestra in Tbilisi, Georgia. Their ingenuity was put to the test as they devised plans to evade their tail, ultimately leading them to a clandestine meeting:

“And so we're all going to get on the subway, and then we're all going to get off, and Rosalie and I are going to jump back on.”
[12:59]

Upon meeting Grigori and Esai Goldstein, along with Tenguis and Eduard Gudava, the atmosphere was charged with both excitement and apprehension. Meryl reflects on the profound impact of their first secret concert:

“Probably the most profound music making I have ever in my entire life made.”
[14:00]

The concert, held in the Gudava's modest apartment, became a moment of unifying musical expression, transcending the oppressive environment:

“And now they just had to get home. Not long after the secret concert, the Boston musicians awoke to an early morning call at the hotel.”
[18:09]

Aftermath: Detention and Deportation

Timestamp: [16:52] – [20:29]

Following the concert, the band members faced immediate repercussions. Early morning detentions involved thorough searches of their belongings, now containing additional coded messages intended for the West:

“And I thought, oh man, now they're really going to do it. They're going to lock us up.”
[19:07]

Despite intense scrutiny, they were not imprisoned but instead deported from the Soviet Union after a prolonged interrogation:

“They ended up at the airport. And while they didn't end up in a Soviet prison, they were told they were going to be thrown out of the country, deported.”
[19:41]

Their return to the United States turned their covert mission into public advocacy. The stories and information they carried ignited speeches, congressional hearings, and global awareness campaigns advocating for Soviet dissidents’ rights.

Legacy and Modern Resonance

Timestamp: [20:29] – [23:09]

The successful mission had tangible outcomes: the Goldsteins were permitted to immigrate to Israel the following year, and the Gudavas, despite initial imprisonment, were released in 1987 under conditions that included leaving the Soviet Union. Their immigration to Boston in September symbolized a victory for human rights activism.

Meryl connects this historical event to present-day struggles:

“Tens of thousands of Jews have left Russia since Putin's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. And now Moscow is moving to close a non-profit organization that helps them immigrate to Israel.”
[20:29]

This continuity emphasizes the enduring nature of oppression and the relentless pursuit of freedom, resonating deeply in today's geopolitical climate.

Conclusion: Music as a Beacon of Hope

Timestamp: [23:02] – End

Dina Temple-Raston wraps up the episode by highlighting the profound legacy of these musicians:

“These are the days Our friends we hope they never we sing and dance.”
[22:27]

The episode underscores how music transcended its artistic roots to become a medium of resistance and hope. Meryl and her ensemble’s bravery not only aided individual dissidents but also contributed to the broader movement for human rights within the Soviet Union.

Final Remark by Meryl Goldberg:

“Forever and today these are the lives.”
[22:31]

Dina closes by acknowledging the production team and contributors, leaving listeners with a poignant reminder of the power of art in shaping history.

Key Takeaways

• Coded Communication: Utilizing music as a vessel for clandestine messages proved to be a brilliant and effective strategy against oppressive regimes.
• Courage and Sacrifice: The musicians demonstrated remarkable bravery, navigating a hostile environment to support fellow dissidents.
• Enduring Impact: The mission not only achieved its immediate goals but also left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire current human rights efforts.
• Art as Resistance: This episode powerfully illustrates how art can be a tool for activism, transcending cultural and political barriers.

Notable Quotes

• Meryl Goldberg:
  “I think creating a code in music would be the easiest way to go about this.”
  [04:26]

• Hank Isnetsky:
  “We noticed... it sure seemed like there was something going on. So I remember we went to our hotel room and interestingly enough, the sink was leaking.”
  [11:33]

• Dina Temple-Raston:
  “In a weird way, it became a strength. It was the perfect cover story. An innocent looking cultural exchange.”
  [05:11]

Credits

Produced by: Sean Powers and Dina Temple-Raston
Edited by: Karen Duffin
Fact-Checked by: Darren Ancrum
Original Music by: Ben Levingston
Special Thanks to: Meryl Goldberg, Hank Isnetsky, Rosalie Jarrett, Jeff Warshauer, and Phyllis Irwin

This episode of Click Here masterfully blends historical intrigue with personal narratives, offering a captivating exploration of how a group of dedicated musicians played a pivotal role in the struggle against Soviet oppression through the universal language of music.