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A chazan on Deutsche Grammophon

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norman lebrecht

January 26, 2020

The German label has recorded works by Louis Lewandowski, organist at Berlin’s Oranienburger Strasse synagogue and one of the leading cantorial composers of the 19th century.

Release date: Feb 7.

Comments

fflambeau says:

January 26, 2020 at 3:47 am

Chazon=cantor

Lewandowski was the first Jew to be admitted to the Berlin Academy at the request of no less a person than Felix Mendelssohn.

There are several chorale societies around the world devoted to his music (Berlin; London; Warsaw; Cincinnati, Los Angeles; Jerusalem; Johannesburg).

stanley cohen says:

January 26, 2020 at 9:29 am

Chazan?

Helene Kamioner says:

January 26, 2020 at 12:50 pm

Give me Moishe Oysher any day

Misha says:

January 26, 2020 at 3:21 pm

I’ve sung a lot of Lewandowski stuff in synagogue, good, solid, mid-19th cent. German, ‘haskala’ music with little beside the text to remind you of anything Jewish.

Tamino says:

January 27, 2020 at 9:01 am

Don’t understand that comment. What would you expect? Shofar ensembles?
What’s wrong with ‘haskala’? It was a most positive development, and in the 19th century arguably the mainstream in Central European Jewish culture and liberation (from the ghetto).
Is there anything in J.S.Bach’s church music, besides the text, that is particularly Christian? No there isn’t, and that is exactly what makes it so universally powerful and speaking to all open hearts and minds.

Reply
- NN says:
  
  January 27, 2020 at 11:39 pm
  
  Bach’s music is especially Christian but also universal. There is a direct line starting from Gregorian chant into classical music esp. church music. Certainly Bach was aware that he was part of that old tradition.
  
  Reply