Among the many changes which affected Jewish life in 19th century Europe, the emergence of modern Yiddish culture is particularly noteworthy. Following the Haskala (Enlightenment) movement, Yiddish - the common spoken language for most East-European Jews - also became the linguistic medium for artistic creation. It was during this period that Yiddish folksongs and popular song evolved, their first creators having emerged from the ranks of "meshoyrerim" (synagogue choristers) and "badchonim" (singers/actors/comedians who entertained wedding guests). Leibu Levin is a spiritual descendant and latter-day reincarnation of these multifaceted artists. He differs from them in that he and his generation were already influenced by European modernism, imbuing their works with a different spirit and different sensibilities. The composer Tzvi Avni has been quoted as saying: "Leibu Levin's songs deserve to be included among the treasures of East-European Jewish music, which is an integral part of European musical culture as a whole. I am convinced that lovers of music and poetry will derive from it not only pleasure and satisfaction, but also the insight that their preservation and performance is an act of historical justice."