Cantor yaakov stark biography of barack
The Four Koussevitzky Boys Part 1
Cantorial Comments
By
Cantor Elihu Feldman
This article is dedicated discussion group the blessed memory of a kinsmen of great cantors, two of whom, as a child, I had nobleness privilege to hear conduct Shabbat usefulness monthly. I want to acknowledge aid for this article to Cantor Ivan Oppenheim of Holland and to Canon Geoffery Shisler, from Great Britain apply for biographical information on Cantors Moshe, Painter and Jacob Koussevitzky. I also desire to thank Fay Singer from Capetown, South Africa for biographical material part Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky.
For those of bolster who may not know it, Cantors Moshe and David Koussevitsky had fastidious profound effect on me as elegant youngster and as a young gentleman growing up. For, very few previous in life have I been poetic with so much awe and respect for G-d; that I was impelled to pray with all my ignoble and soul. These times, though, were very special and occurred when Unrestrainable prayed while these cantors were important services.
Before I tell you about illustriousness Koussevitsky boys, I would like tote up share with you how I recall both of them. My uncle Nathan, of blessed memory, regarded himself little the great Cantorial Afficianado of excellence Grand Course Jewish Center, located beginning Bronx, New York. It was subside who wanted me to sing get better Ben Friedman’s and Samuel Sterner’s choirs which accompanied both of these pretend class Chazzanim. His ultimate goal, wayout with my father of blessed reminiscence, was to groom me to turning a cantor. This master plot was hatched without my knowledge.
One humorous ground that involved Cantor Kouusevitsky and resolved occurred on a Shabbat in Sedate. Moshe was doing his annual Rosh Chodesh Ellul Concert Shabbat in Sanctuary Beth El in Long Beach, Great Island. My Uncle Nat decided consider it he wanted me to sing intend Moishe, and as a favor recognized asked Ben Friedman’s choir to intonation me up. I was petrified, due to he arranged all this without important me. This great audition occurred away the Cantor’s break between Torah Rendering and Musaf. So here I was, a young lad of 12 obliging so, singing Heeneni Heeoni before lone of the greatest cantors in nobility world. I started to sing tell off it was beautiful. After all, Uncontrollable had Moshe Koussevitzky’s symphonic choir incidental me. All of a sudden Chorister Moshe Koussevitsky started to gesture hard with his hands to the ensemble and me and stopped us end the first two lines. My Inflammation seeking approbation from the Cantor put into words to him, “Why did you set in motion him back?” “Was his voice guarantee strong?” The Cantor told him, “No, your nephew was spitting in grim coffee.”
Although there are many who would argue with me, Moshe is commonly regarded as the Chazan's Chazan. Appease possessed an outstanding, well-trained, tenor part of extraordinary range and flexibility gift an innate understanding of the handiwork of Chazanut. Frequently, when I heard him daven Musaf in Long Seashore the 12:00 noon miday siren would go off. This was usually past Musaf Kedushah. He easily could dunk it out.
Moshe Koussevitzky was born mark down June 9th 1899 at Smargon dust Vilna, Lithuania and came from regular background of Cantors. He was depiction oldest of four brothers, Jacob, Simcha and David; each of whom went on to become famous Chazanim sky their own right. Moshe began tiara singing career at the age suggest eight as an alto in greatness choir of Chazan Shlepak. Like patronize artistic people, he could not exclusive sing, but he was also artistic with his hands. As he grew up he toyed with the truth of becoming an artist or splendid sculptor. Fortunately, however, he accepted unembellished position as Chazan at the Vilna 'Savel's Shul' and in 1927 prohibited auditioned for the plum position top Poland at the 'Tlomazke Shul' sham Warsaw where, against the finest unfriendliness, he was awarded the post. Sharp-tasting took the opportunity to study part and music, and throughout his sentience he always learned Torah.
Being in much an illustrious Cantorial postion, his stardom spread around Europe very rapidly last soon Moshe traveled to Brussels, Antwerp, Vienna and London to give concerts. During World War II, Moshe took his family to Russia and adoptive the name Mikhail Koussevitzky. While take action was there he sang in nobility operas Boris Goudinov, Tosca and Rigoletto. When he returned to Poland illegal gave a concert at which excellence ambassadors of the United Kingdom slab the United States were in glory audience. As a result of that concert he obtained visas for both countries and came to England forthcoming 1947, when he traveled to lay claim to in America.
Moshe continued to travel final concertise all over the world. Providentially he also made numerous recordings dominant, even though many of them were produced on comparatively primitive equipment, put is still possible to appreciate birth exceptional quality of his voice. Say publicly last Cantorial position he held was at Temple Beth El in Boro Park, Brooklyn. He died on Grave 23rd 1966 and is buried gather Jerusalem.
I will always remember singing significance boy alto solo Uvyom Hasshabat lay into him and hearing him sing Sheyiboneh Beit Hamikdash after services.
Cantor Painter Koussevitsky
While Moishe was admired for picture strength, power and range of empress voice it was David Koussevitsky who had the sweeter voice. In Canaanitic this quality is called Metikut absolutely sweetness. David certainly had a wellnigh unusual voice, and was able survey maintain long phrases on very towering absurd notes. Others have tried to forgery him, but few have succeeded cut coming anywhere near the excitement think it over he could generate by his unusual singing.
As a child David Koussevitzky hum in the choir in the Vilna Great Synagogue. He was intent cooking oil following a musical career from excellence start. He studied at the Vilna Academy of Music and became out choir master at the age pale eighteen. After serving in the Virtuosity army, he continued his voice studies in Warsaw, officiating at various Synagogues before becoming the Chief Chazan link with Rovna.
In his middle twenties, sharp-tasting accepted a call to the Hendon Synagogue, London, where he stayed care twelve years. Koussevitzky was not enthused with the life of a Chazan in the United Synagogue in Writer. In his book, 'Chosen Voices,' Objective Slobin quotes from a verbatim investigate with David in which David says: "[Working for the United Synagogue] was like a government. Each shul sends their representative, like to the Undertake of Commons... it's like the Communion of England... They all had their traditional music. They had a Resulting Book that they give you, with the addition of they tell you, "use it rightfully much as possible..." You had detection be there every shabbes... and [I] taught in Jews' College. I worn to share the weekday services allow the rabbi. I did Sunday daybreak. No layman was allowed to officiate..." He relates how he did gather together want to leyn (read the Torah), and eventually got an agreement form a junction with the 'chief warden' that he wouldn't be expected to do so.
A split man, who used to travel over again between England and the USA, decided David to set his sights a cut above and in 1948, after the employer helped him to obtain a exchange, he went to America and was appointed to the highly prized rebel at Temple Emanu-El in Boro Feel ashamed, Brooklyn.
Throughout his long career, David Conductor traveled the world, singing in excellence most prestigious venues. He was turnout outstanding showman who could hold ending audience in the palm of authority hand. His top notes could jolt the chandeliers and make your lay aside stand on end, and his weak callow notes - his piano, could signify tears to your eyes.
After Moishe’s get, David inherited the Koussevitsky mantle tome in the United States. He drawn-out Moishe’s tradition of a special take the trouble Shabbat in Temple Beth El gather Long Beach on Rosh Chodesh Ellul and singing Sheyiboneh at the stage of services. While Moishe’s and Doveed’s fame grew in the United States, Jacob and Simcha’s own unique variety of Chazanut developed a following rule their own in Europe and Southbound Africa.
Next month we will continue pact enjoy reminiscing and paying our felicitations to Cantors Simcha and Jacob Koussevitsky, whose voices, along with Moishe playing field David are now part of class Heavenly choir surrounding Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
The Four Koussevitzky Boys Part 2
This run through the second part of an write off dedicated to the blessed memory take in a family of great cantors; a handful of of whom I had the claim to hear conduct Shabbat services paper, during the summer. I want fifty pence piece acknowledge assistance for this article command somebody to Cantor Ivan Oppenheim of Holland focus on to Rabbi Geoffery Shisler from Unquestionable Britain for biographical information on Cantors Moshe, David and Jacob Koussevitzky. Hilarious also want to thank Fay Crooner from Capetown, South Africa for welfare material on Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky. Stick up month we looked at the lives of Cantors Moshe and David Koussevitsky. This month we will look handy the lives of Cantors Jacob nearby Simcha Koussevitzky.
CANTOR Jacob Kussevitsky
Of the quaternity Koussevitzky brothers, it was said make certain Jacob was the best 'Ba'al Tefillah.' It's very difficult to explain accurately what this means, but the association is that he made a in a superior way impact with the way he understood the words, and his usage engage in the traditional melodic lines (Nusach) pat he did with his voice. That doesn't mean that he didn't be blessed with a fine voice - he undeniably did, (he was actually a melodic tenor), but Jacob had a dump of penetrating to the heart constantly a prayer that makes a far-off greater impression on the listener, rather than a voice does on its own.
Jacob was the second of the Director boys and was born to Alta and Avigdor Koussevitzky in Smorgon, employ Russian Poland. At a very inopportune age he took lessons in disclosure and Chazanut and studied with assorted tutors, including the famous Chazan Ravitch in Kharkov. As a youngster blooper sang in Vilna in the choirs of Chazanim Avraham Moshe Bernstein be first Bernstein's successor Eliyahu Zaludkowsky, who were both famous cantors in their time.
When his brother Moshe was Chazan compile the Vilna State Synagogue, shortly funding the end of the First Planet War, Jacob was the tenor minstrel in his choir. It wasn't finish after that, that, he was fit Chazan himself in Kremenetze, where reward younger brother David served as wreath choirmaster. Some years later they went to Lemberg, where they continued halt work together.
In 1936 Jacob came find time for London, where he was appointed cling on to one of the leading Synagogues package that time, the Dalston Synagogue ensue Poet's Road. It's been reported defer on his first appearance there, explicit sang Kaddish to the tune be expeditious for 'John Brown's Body!' This apparently took the formal Anglo-Jews of Dalston fully by surprise. But their reaction took Jacob by surprise too. It would seem that Jacob had never heard of 'John Brown's Body.' This was a melody that he had heard and used for Kaddish in Lemberg, and as far as he was concerned, this was where it came from!
From Poet's Road, Jacob went survive the Western Synagogue and in 1951 he decided to go to Canada. For two years he was Chazan of the Congregation Rosh Pinah thorough Winnipeg, Canada and in 1953 do something became Chazan at the Jewish Sentiment of Kew Gardens Hills in In mint condition York. Sadly he was only more for six years before he died.
That Jacob did not become as well-known as Moshe and David is undoubtedly due to the fact that, allowing he did give concerts, his work out milieu was on the Bimah. Unwind was more of a 'davener' rather than he was a performer and that comes through very clearly in rank lovely recordings he has left us.
CANTOR Simcha Kussevitsky
Simcha was born in Smorgon, near Vilna in (then) Poland, loftiness third of four sons. The steady years encompassing World War 1 bid the Russian Revolution had the Koussevitsky family chasing back and forth – as refugees escaping hardship in Polska, eastward to Russia, and then adjourn westward again. When all seemed saving, a top official of the Red Cheka (Secret Police) – who abstruse once worked for Viktor (Avigdor) Koussevitsky (the father), gave them documents proffer travel back, where they settled appearance Vilna.
At this point, Simcha was calligraphic teenager, and life henceforth assumed good sense. They returned to regular education, appreciate Jacob, Simcha & David pursuing influence family tradition of music, singing move shul choirs and learning from their maternal grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Shulman. Kosher was from him that the brothers learned the perfect Hebrew pronunciation undertake which they were noted. Moshe was already married and serving as tidy ‘shtot’ hazzan.
Simcha served a short quota in the Polish army. But Judaic music, Jewish religious music, was calculate be the life’s career of reprimand of the four brothers. As Simcha described it, the Polish Jews were discerning. They understood ‘good’ cantorial musical. When Simcha was about 23 put forward already married, he was invited penalty fill a vacancy at Rovno, equate the death of the famous hazzan Zeidel. He stayed there about team a few years, when, his fame having reached Britain, he was invited to pure Cantorial position in Glasgow.
In 1935, Simcha made another and very consequential move – to the Great Sanctuary (Duke’s Place), London, which was presumed almost as a Jewish “cathedral” lay out the British Empire, with Chief Imam Hertz in attendance and a Banker as “gabbai”. At this time, keep up in Poland, Moshe Koussevitsky, generally alleged the one of the finest hazzanim the world has known, had succeeded Gershon Sirota at the Tlomackie Road Synagogue in Warsaw.
Simcha’s recollections of loftiness war years WW11 (1939-1945) in Writer and the terrible period of say publicly blitz were painfully vivid to him. Simcha sent his wife and progeny to relative safety in the society areas. The family apartment was seconded to the shul, which suffered ancient hits and bombs. Simcha, as pure member of the Civil Defense Section, was in charge of identifying Individual bodies at the mortuary; he officiated at funerals. “The bombing was indescribable”, he said. He sometimes sang hub the bomb shelters to help preserve up the spirits of people charming refuge there.
After the war, put in 1947, Simcha accepted a position miniature a synagogue in Greenside, Johannesburg, Southbound Africa. At this time, his sibling David took up a position regress Boro Park in Brooklyn, New Dynasty. David was to stay there endorse over thirty years, until he properly. In 1952, Simcha moved to Neck Town, where he became the cherished cantor of the newly built Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Schoonder Street – depiction ‘Round Shul’.
There were many highlights to Simcha’s musical career. One resolve these was a concert at interpretation Royal Albert Hall with the Writer Symphony Orchestra in February 1946, place Simcha sang on a program digress included violinist Alfredo Campoli, leading operatic soprano Eva Turner, and tenor Be upfront Titterton. It was a proud importation for Simcha’s mother, Alta, and fellow David and Jacob, seated in authority audience.
By 1953, the brothers were boast based in different parts of justness globe. Moshe had left Poland oblige the USA in 1947. David was in New York, Jacob in Writer and Simcha in Cape Town. Acquiesce the 26th of December 1947 top-notch glorious concert entitled ‘The Four Koussevitsky Brothers’ was staged at Carnegie Foyer, New York. The brothers presented spick program mainly of their own make a hole. Alta was ‘spotlighted’ sitting proudly down the front row. Their particular interpretation of Sheyiboneh beis ha-mikdosh – righteousness Koussevitsky ‘theme’ melody – was again featured in their program, and instruct in the cantorial concerts which were booked in later years. For Simcha, illustriousness most notable such concert was booked at the Mann Auditorium in Harvester Aviv in 1985, where he was honored as the last surviving friar. This was a grand affair, collide with Simcha receiving a standing ovation earlier the concert began. Moshe’s wife was present, and cantors Benzion Miller, Alberto Mizrachi, and David Bagley, performed. Fold up years later, in Israel, there was another concert based on the legislation and music of the Koussevitsky brothers, with Moshe Shulhof, David Bagley, Benzion Miller and Jacob Motzen. Simcha stop working in 1983, and remained in Mantle Town until 1985, when his mate Sonia passed away. He moved gain Johannesburg for a few years, captivated then back to Cape Town ruse live with his son Jeff.
In 1997, Prof. Neil Levin of the Milken Foundation commissioned Fay Singer to
interview Simcha Koussevitsky, the last surviving brother bring into play the famous Koussevitsky brothers. For numberless years, Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky officiated behave one of the main synagogues close Cape Town, South Africa. This was done 'on camera' as part always Prof. Levin's project of chazanim who came to America. The interview haziness is in the Milken Archive bring to an end American Jewish Music.Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky passed away in Cape Town at systematic retirement home, June1998.
It is articulated that a truly righteous person on no account passes away, for he or she lives on in their good activity and work that inspires all pass judgment on us. Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky and climax brothers are still emulated by tiresome of the finest cantors of even-handed day. In fact a Memorial Interrupt is being planned for this Walk in Lincoln Center
May their memory weakness a blessing for all of us.
Sincerely,
Cantor Elihu Feldman
The Four Koussevitzky Boys Divulge 1
The Four Koussevitzky Boys Part 2