New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
HEBREW MUSIC
4 Choir of CHasans an Carnegie
Hall.

What was probably the first concert Of is kind
in New York took place in Carnegie Hall last Sun
day night. was gwen by the Cantors BeaeFo-
lent Association Of the city q choir oi men--hs
chasa1s VINO lead the musical service Of prayer
and praise and chant the Scriptures in the syna-
sogucs and temples OF the city. No statement was
published either on the program Ulme or bE word OF
mouth Of any special object mad in view in giving
the concert. ana the assumption is open that It
was 70 promote the purposes for which the assocl-
alton was formed The name gives one susges-
tioa. the programme another All Of the music
sung belonged TO the Uorship-music used ny the
followers Of the ancient religion Of JeUry. and
some Of il made use Of traditional melodies Whlch
have come down through centuries The con-
began with a setting of the S2d Psalm 'IoF
Chodos." which in the Reformed Temples opens
the service on Sabbath eve, by LeEaudoTsli. This
was followed by the "Ono tovo." the Introduction
20 confession on the Day OF AtOuemeur set by
Naur7bour the "Omnum Ken" from the evening
service by SuIzer The "hoI nidre.'' mast famous
and the "Haueluiah' psalm I50'. again by Levan-
dovski. the "kol nIdre' arranged By Trachten-
borg. the 'FIatikvah' Zionist hymn ana ''Adon
osra" which forms tie conclusion of the Sabbath
services ny SuIzer The '.kol uilre." -Gost famous
Of all the traditional hymns Of the Jews. was also
played in the arrangement for violouceLo solo
made by Max BruCu and there was some piano
forte music which had the effect only of disturb
ing interruption Of tie serious and beautiful ousl-
ness of the evening. The composers. whose names
have been mentioned are among the most famous
promoters Of synagogaI music OF recent times
Louis Levandowski- a Pole vas the leader Of the
choir the New Synagogue IN Berlin. and received
the title of Roy al Music Director from the King OF
Prussia: :. Naumbourg. a BavarIan by birth. vas
for wears officiating minister at the COnsIsloriaI
Temple in Paris for which post he vas 'recom-
meuded by Haley the opera composer, and Sale
mon SuIzer was To- more than nifty years-trom
I825 down 10 a recent Interpretation Of the prtn-
cipaI synagogue in Vienna where in mis- youth he
numbered Schubert. Schumann. List and many
other great musicians among 1s friends Eacn OF
these was the author Of vo.uminous service
books and to them is chiefly due the artistic Wor-
shtD music 0S the Jews.
The choir which sang this music lae- S,iud ~
numbered aboUt one hundred mon. The music las
given as arranged e0r mems voices most Of me
music Of The Reformed Temples. even that bas.I
upon the traditional melodies. having been set for
mixed voices and organ Upholdsrs of ancient
Inventions might have found in the constitution
of tho ohot~ backward glance Al Institution
or remote antiquity. Men and men only sang
tla Temnje service begun hE David md dc-
veloped to such amazing grandeur by Solomon
that the description left by Joseph.s and o,her
ancient writers passes belief. We can scarcely.
imagine what Use the musicians Of the Temple
could have had for the 'l0tGa sace-dotaI garments
Of fine linen with purple EirdIes for the priests,
tho 2oaG0 truinaets. and the 2Goon0 garments of
fire linen for Tie singers which were Le-ltesT md
the 5000 ps5Iteries ard harps which the old lis
t-rian tells US King Solomon placed in the Temple.
One thing is certain. how ever. the singers we're
men. There Aas been a change since then
Now there still many relics Of the ancient
even the temples OF the Rel formed Jews.
but they are only remains. and very few Of them
having anything to do with music Women
sent into the galleries except in the orthodox
syEacogues. IS il obligatory keep ones head
GOV cred within the sanctuary. the singers did
on the stage OF Carnegie Hall last Sunday. Not
only admitted to the choirs. but Chris
tIaus also. the Reformed jews more tolerant
: han the present head of the Roman Church has
shown himself t. be III his effort tstili largely
fut,lr) 10 retura ancient manners ia tine CHRIS
tian service IN the modern temples the portions
the ritual which may De said 10 correspond with
the Collects. Epistlea and Gospels treq I-HJly
the ordinary Wy, though sometimes chant
ed. and though the congregation is theoretically
surpassed To part in the responses the rahbi
it does so boy proxy in al tie musical portion
which is apart soI the choir ana the ehazan cor
cantor-the iecJoT. reader. the primitive Chris
tians} In the syuasogues OF strict orthodoxy
are neither organs nor choirs Why this should
be 50 does rot plainly appear even 10 the student
oe ecclesiastical antiquities. According records
ana traditions the service in the Temple Ieru-
salem vas Of extravagant elaborateness- The Bible
tells Of the appointment or great companies of
singers, and have that Josephus would
Us believe that musical instruments we're
capped Ut 5y the thousands the Temple by Solo