It is said that one night, Rosenblatt dreamt of the melody of this work. Upon waking the next morning, he began to write down this melody. He then composed a fantasy based on it, utilizing the idioms of traditional Jewish folk music. It also incorporates some slightly jazzy elements. Both Rosenblatt and Shinkin are Jewish. For Rosenblatt, who frequently composes on folk music themes, this subject was undoubtedly a natural choice.