CantorsClub

Cantor Helfgot sings..... Shlomo Carlebach?

2013-08-26T21:42:00.001-04:00

This evening I came across an interesting video of Cantor Helfgot, Chief Cantor of the Park East Synagogue in New York City, international Chazzanut concert performer and possibly the most hyped Chazzan of our time.

Instead of his usual chazzanut classics like Zibert's "Mimkomcha," Kwartin's "Tiher Rabbi Yishmael," and Rosenblatt's "Ad Hena", he took on Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's Moshe Ve'Aharon from Kabbalat Shabbat.

Some of the most memorable Kabbalat Shabbat's of my life were spent with my good friend Danny Weinstein at Brandeis University, who introduced me (and many others) to a true Carlebach service.

Glad to see a professional chazzan perform a contemporary piece which speaks to those who have been moved by Carlebach's music.

Evolution of my personal קבלת שבת Kabbalat Shabbat

2013-04-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

I believe that every prayer leader should strive to create an atmosphere of awe, beauty and inspiration through singing.

As I sang the words of the Maariv service this past Friday in Olney, MD I found myself overcome with appreciation for the life long vocal journey that has lead me to where I am today. While I am still far from where I yearn to be vocally, my voice has broken through to a new level.

וּמַעֲבִיר יום וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה. וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יום וּבֵין לָיְלָה. ה' צְבָאות שְׁמו. אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעולָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים"

Over the last 8 years, the feedback I have gotten regarding my singing voice has gone from "you are a good Baal Tefilla" to "wow! Where did you learn to sing like that?". There is still a very long journey ahead, but uncovering my singing voice's nature has been an alchemy of sorts.

I have been studying with the one and only (truly) Rabbi Cantor Don Roberts since around 2005. Singing is like building a skyscraper. There is no trick, technique, or other type of short cut to building a throat. It takes years and years of perseverance under a proper mentor.

While I don't expect to ever enter the realm of my Cantorial heroes like Yossele Rosenblatt (יוסלה רוזנבלט) or Cantor Benzion Miller (בֶּן צִיּוֹן מילר), I can somewhat seriously entertain the prospect of singing professionally as a Cantor and/or Opera singer and getting a glimpse of being a professional singer is far more than I could have ever imagined.

In The Spirit Of Yossele- Now on Youtube

2013-02-01T15:42:00.001-05:00

Today I came across a video uploaded by CantorialArt containing an interview of the great grandson of Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt. For someone who has only listened to his music, I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Yossele as a person. There are several stories told which demonstrate how he was not only a man with a gifted voice but a man with tremendous integrity. The interview is in two parts. Totally worth the entire 15 minutes.

Cantor Rosenblatt Donation to Titanic Victims- July 1913 "אל מלא רחמים"

2012-11-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

This morning, while getting mentally prepared to start working (by day I work for a Digital Marketing company doing business development), I came across a very interesting Youtube video with the title "Cantor Yoselle Rosenblat- El Mole Rachamim (for 'Titanik'). I did a double take. Is this true? Did Cantor Rosenblatt record a special rendition of El Mole Rachamim in response to this terrible tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic? Apparently, yes.

I believe this was recorded by Cantor Rosenblatt around July of 1913 for RCA Records. According to Jpost, Cantor Rosenblatt donated 100% of his rights to the recording, which raised upwards of $150,000 to be contributed to families who lost loved ones on the Titanic.

Though we are 100 years since the tragedy of the Titanic, let's take comfort in knowing that there will always be those who extend themselves to help those who are suffering.

יוסלה רוזנבלט

"Exalted, compassionate God, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering Presence, among the holy and the pure, to the souls of all our beloved who have gone to their eternal home. May their memory endure as inspiration for deeds of charity and goodness in our lives. May their souls thus be bound up in the bond of life. May they rest in peace. And let us say: Amen."

Chazzanut Online- For your Cantorial needs

2012-10-25T08:50:00.003-04:00

Last year I showcased a site called Virtual Cantor, a rich database of free traditional Nussach for many Shabbat/Holiday services. Today I would like to give a shout out to Chazzanut. This site contains a plethora of Cantorial sheet music as well as MIDI files, so you can pickup Abraham Katz's V'Shamru or Birkat Kohanim. Take a look and let me know which piece is your favorite? Better yet, why not make a youtube video of yourself singing the piece and share it? I am thinking of starting to upload some cantorial pieces to CantorsClub.

Happy Singing!
Mishebeirakh- Cantor Katz Midi

IDF Chief Cantor- Prayer for the State of Israel

2012-10-11T15:37:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, my father-in-law sent me a video of a guy singing a "Prayer for the State of Israel" (Avinu Shebashamayim). It just so happens, it was Shai Abramson, the IDF's Chief Cantor as of 2009. Apparently, in 2008, he was asked to sing at an IDF function and after he finished, the Chief of Staff said on the podium, “I greatly enjoyed that amazing chazan (cantor),” Ashkenazi said. “Your voice is amazing and if you lack a horizon at Elram [the previous name for Technology and Logistics Branch – ed.] then you have one in chazanut with us,”.

The Voice Teacher- Rabbi/Cantor Donald Neil Roberts

2012-10-08T13:28:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you about Rabbi/Cantor Don Roberts, my Voice Teacher, for the last decade. Don teaches some of the greatest Cantorial talents of our time. He also teaches an impressive roster of classical singers and pop singers. He is the best kept secret in Voice Pedagogy and has completely transformed the way I approach the Voice and singing in general. Here is a documentary called "The Voice Teacher", that was put together by one of his students, Daniel Mendelson, son of another long time student, Cantor Jack Mendelson (see "A Cantor's Tale")

Cantor Yaakov Motzen Sings at Kemp Mill Synagogue in Maryland

2011-05-01T21:57:00.000-04:00

This past friday evening I went to the Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silverspring MD to hear the visiting Cantor Yaakov Motzen lead Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv.

I did not know what to expect. Over the last several years all the buzz had been about Cantor Helfgot and a select other few. I am familiar with a handful other Chazzanim that are all very talented but Cantor Yaakov Motzen had slipped under the radar.

He is a true professional. Every phrase that comes out of his mouth is carefully crafted with strong vocal technique and artistic interpretation. He sounds like he could night float as an Opera Singer.

The accompanying choir from YU was passable at best but still added an important element that is essential for a strong Cantorial experience. A good choir not only helps push the Cantor/Congregation to new heights but helps make the Cantorial soloist's singing more accessible so the congregation can sing along as well.

Cantor Motzen's high notes were the most exciting part of the evening. Whether just touching a high note during an arpeggiated chord or holding a sustained high note at the end of Lewandowski's tzadik katamar they all were thrilling, effortless, and inspiring.

This type of experience is what we so desperately need to jump start Jewish music as an art form in the synagogue again.

I Dread Going to Shul- By Daniel Schwartz

2011-03-28T15:27:00.000-04:00

This article about Chazzanut appears in issue 9 of Conversations, the journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

It provides a historical context for the decline of the role of Cantorial Music in Synagogue practice, stemming from the emergence of the Young Israel movement, who's mission was to render synagogue services more relevant to the contemporary worshipper.

Read the article here- I Dread Going to Shul

Naftali Herstik - Shomer Yisrael

2011-03-15T13:15:00.000-04:00

Last week I came across a video by Naftali Herstik, backed by the Neimah Singers doing a choral arrangement of Shomer Yisrael. Videos like these "Save" my life every once in a while, breathing fresh clean air into my lungs and fueling my continued passion for life and music. Not bad for a few minutes on youtube!

Cantor Herstik's voice soars over the choir in a light Falsetto, adorning the beautiful choral arrangement that rests beneath it, uplifting all those who choose to immerse themselves in the music. One can only hope more congregations will adopt similar practices to uplift congregants.

Virtual Cantor- Nussach Library

2011-03-04T13:55:00.001-05:00

For those of you that want a free resource for basic traditional Nussach (tunes), visit Virtual Cantor.

It has MP3's for just about every prayer you may want to learn. This site is ideal for a novice Cantor. If you are training to be a professional cantor you probably would want something else. Enjoy and have a great weekend, all!

Cantor Benzion Miller Lights Chanukah Candles

2011-02-02T16:25:00.000-05:00

Listen to the Chanukah blessings as you've never heard them before. This is Cantor Benzion Miller's rendition of the candle lighting blessings for Chanukah back in 1989.

A Cantor's Tale- Improvised Cantorial Choir

2011-01-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

This morning I came across a video of the great Cantor Jacob Ben-Zion Mendelson from Temple Israel in White Planes in New York. In the middle of this video he illustrates how he can get any group of musically inclined people to be a cantorial choir and experience cantorial music in a meaningful way that doesn't put them to sleep. Give it a try! You may be surprised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUgFZFFs1tE

Magical Shabbat Dinner Song

2010-03-08T22:18:00.000-05:00

In February, I was eating Shabbat dinner with a really beautiful family in MD. The Father, who is a Chazzan, started singing "Dodi Li" at the Shabbos Table by himself. He repeated the melody and then his wife joined in with a harmony as well as his three children. I had never heard that version of Dodi Li before.

My Girlfriend and I were literally blown away so I found the song online (From the "Rock n'Roll Matzah Ball" Album by Judy & David) and started putting together the following arrangement of it using NoteFlight. Coincidently, my girlfriend's name is Dodie, which made the whole thing even cooler.

CantorsClub Assemble w/ guest Cantor!

2009-10-26T12:49:00.000-04:00

This Friday night and Saturday morning CantorsClub will be singing with Cantor Zev Muller and special guest Cantor Paul Kentor at the West Side Institutional Synagogue. We will be singing special arrangements of songs like Shama V'Tismach, Avinu Shebashamayim, Etz Chayim, and Adon Olam. Don't worry. CantorsClub makes Cantorial Music (or Chazzanut) fun so you don't have to be a cantorial enthusiast to appreciate our music...

CantorsClub Sings Again...

2009-07-08T17:24:00.001-04:00

Cantorsclub sang again at the West Side Institutional Synagogue several weeks ago. We sang for Kabbalat Shabbat as well as Shabbos morning, with Cantor Zev Muller.

We tested a number of tunes, including a version of Menucha V'Simcha, that we set to kedusha for the first time and the congregation responded quite well. We also sang Dudu Fisher's version of Birchat Hachodesh.

We are always amazed at how incredible Zevi is at such a young age. He is truly a nice person, with loads of talent, who loves to sing and it shows when he leads services.

We finished up Shabbos morning services with my personal favorite version of Adon Olam. I have never seen congregations get so into the prayer service as when we sing this song and then end it with a Fortisimo series of chords ending with a sustained cadence. GETS THEM EVERY TIME. We love it!

A young married couple, who threw a kiddush in honor of their newborn Twins, asked if their father could sing with us? We were a bit nervous that he would throw off the mix but he ended up being a very strong singer. Apparently, he runs a fairly prestigious shalosh seudot zemirot weekly get together in Jerusalem. He spent a whole hour telling Micah how much he loved singing with us. CantorsClub will now be known internationally!

There was one song we didn't get to sing. However, I am confident that we will be able to share that song with people in due time. We are planning to introduce some inspiring music soon so be on the lookout!

CantorsClub Facebook Group

2009-03-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

Check out our new CantorsClub Facebook Group

I put this picture together for us as a placeholder until someone designs a logo for us. Any takers?

Introducing the CantorsClub Members

2009-02-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

Micah Lemonik

Jeffrey Katz

Omer Neumeir

Menachem Edjelman

Jason Katz

Avi Figdor

Jonathan Mandel

CantorsClub. How did it all begin?

2009-02-06T11:25:00.000-05:00

Hi there. We are a group of Jewish Cantorial Music enthusiasts who love to sing. We have sang with a number of cantors in Manhattan. It all started several years ago at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. A small group of us went to hear Cantor Malovany the Friday night service for Shabbat. There weren't many people at the service and the Cantor imediately noticed our presense as we sang four part harmonies around Cantor Malovany's beautiful voice.

By the middle of the service Cantor Malovany began conducting us from the pulpit and by the end of the service, we were singing as his de facto choir and thus, CANTORSCLUB was born.