11. Chazzanim of Eastern Europe in the 1800s-1900s Flashcards
The Chor-shul and Chur-Chazzanim
B. When modern Jews in Eastern Europe started to adopt some Reform from the west and set up the modern synagogue called the chor-shul with chor-chazzanim in the modern style, these chazzanim were ridiculed as galochish because of their clothing which resembled that of priests and their long-extended notes without ornaments that sounded like prayer of the church; could not gain the sympathy of the greater Jewish public
two types of Chazzanim developed:
- Fine voices combine with talent of performance and great skill at composition
- Composers and choir leaders who lacked great vocal ability - limited their solo parts to a minimum and selected fine voices for their choir
“Motza”
individual styles were created and then copied by the chazzan’s apprentice singers and admirers.
Dovidl Brod Strelisker
a. Originally sang as a volunteer, became a paid cantor when he lost his fortune
b. Last position was in Pest, Hungary
c. Great influence on other cantors in Hungary and Galicia although he did not read or write music
Sender Polatshik (Sender Minsker)
a. Powerful bass-baritone voice
b. Would gather choir members together and teach them new compositions as he invented them at a moment of inspiration
c. Without any musical knowledge, his choir members would need to remember his compositions by heart after hearing him compose them
Nissan Spivak (Nissi Belzer)
Chazzan in mainly in Belz
a. Most gifted composer of the old school
b. Became choir leader and composer after he lost his voice
c. New style, based on chorus with interspersed solos
d. Dared bold modulations
e. As a city-chazzan, he officiated only on special Shabbosim, Yom Tov, and fast days- which became to be regarded as religious concerts, so that Jews from all over town would come to his main synagogue after praying in their own congregations
f. Strongly influenced by military music
Gershon Sirota
a. Dramatic tenor of unusual strength
b. Perfect control and wide vocal register allowed him to perform coloratura feats
c. Masterful improvisations
d. He and his family perished in the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII
Eastern European Chazzanim in the US
- Strong in unrhythmical improvised form
- Performed at concerts and charity events in addition to synagogue
- Large meeting halls were engaged to serve as temporary synagogues for when the cantors would perform to overflow crowds
- Voices recorded on phonograph recordings, and even radio programs and movie films
- Congregations competed for service of well-known chazzanim arriving from Europe
Yossele Rosenblatt
a. Never compromised his religious principles; declined invitation to sing with the Chicago Opera Company
b. Venturesome pioneer in public performances, making tours and playing to audiences which included people who may have never seen a religious Jew before.
