The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-07-18
Impressions Of z !.
Jewish COMPOSERS
interviewer Finds Herschman
and Leo Low Cultured
to a Degree.
sy LAV4LQ' SCHWARTZ.

. q
q sy LAyxLQ' SCHWARTZ. :
1t, is pot sftsn that one has an OPP
portpnity to- interview two eminent
artists ct the same time. That's the
good fortuss that fell to my'lot when
I visited the two great champions OF
Jewish musical art--cantor Mordecai
Hsrsehmap, OF Wilma Russia, and Leo
Low music director of the largest
syaAsogue In TIE world, Warsaw, Po-
land. 3 ~ - r.. . .','- 8 ~.
4 1t takes but a few minutes In the
company OF these two artists to real
ize thatHthsy are cultured musicians
AM more than one sense. While IL 10
evident that Jewish music lies closest
10 their heA rts. snevertheless, both, OF
them realize that with all its beauty,
with All it's quaint rhythmic and
meIodic aEharacTsrisLic traits, j Jewish
music. like the music of any~other
race. while complete within itself.
forms hut one pillar in the. Walballa
OF musical art.
. SINGER OF THE PEOPLE. .
: Cantor Herschmsn's programs con-
pists Of famous ariss from the syna-
goEpe services and OF Jewish folk
sonEsi Like most cantors, he sang
In the Temple choir for many years.
Then; taking up his musical studies
ct THE" Conservatory of Music. In
Kisy, Russia, he finally became the,
cantor of wilma. . v,'f
, Cantor Herrchman is a p singer of
the people: and after many years OF
struggle, he now enjoys the fame OF
being one of the greatest cantors and
singers, of Jewish folk-songs. To put
1t in his own humorous manner: 81
sing lavish folk songs like McCor-
mack sings his Irish tunes" ..-.
& - JEWISH MCCORMICK.
Unlike. most comparisons. this one
Is not odious, fer, the cantor from
Russia Is blessed with one Of the most
wonderful tenor voices in this wide
world. And to continue the smile,
much like Mccormack, he also wins
his audience. through the simplicity
and sincerity Of his art. Only man
who had suffered as the Jews have.
under the tyrannical government Of
old Russia. only, sgch a Jewish singer
could surcharge 'his5songs with the
great dramatic powers that Cantor
Herschman infuses into his rendition
Of these plaintive melodies.
In listening to these quaint songs,
one does not have to understand the
lyTiCS " 81 oSp thV hSScSeS
Of the, song for the melody in itself
Is SO expressive of sorrows, or bub-
bling over with humor.- or sounding
the hopes of the hunted Jewish race.
that 1t Is boInd to awaken the finest
sentiment within the soul of any
music lover Of whatever faith he may
be. ,-. -
BIRTH OF. JEWISH FoLK-sONGs.
y Leo Low, who, conducts the choral
accompanir6ents at Cantor Herself
mans coNtefts,, isyope. Of the greatest
authorittesso on J swtsh music. \ He was
just pennipEt An. essay on the subject
Tor the JewfshsPress ofLAmeriea, when
I came to iat1Fyisx: him., and 1t, was
from this thsgpuSh scholar that re-
ceived information, on, the cardinal
points of the Jewish musical cult.
, you; see, the Jewish folk-sopg
differs in many respects from. the
folk-songs Of other races. First Of
all, unlike other folk songs. the Jew
ish folk tunes did not thrive In the
beginning in the home. but in the
synagogue. For the Orthodox Jew
his temple became not only house
Of worship, but also a sort Of a COM
his sorrows. and joys in song, liter
ature or other forms Of art.
FoSTERED AT FIREsDE.
"TheyH had no concert halls. no
theater, and since the Jews emotion
finds most natural expression In
song, it was inevitable that their
new musical creations should event
uaily be heard at the synagogues.
"In tho beginning these songs were.
Of course, primitive, in melodic vein
and in structure. Later, when pro-
fessiona singers made a life work
Of cultivatinG these songs, the melo-
dies developed to higher artistic
degree. Prom then on, the Jewish
foik-sonss were gradually introduced
in to the homes, and dating from that
period, a greater variety of lyric sub
jects we're set to music by these pop
ular composers. r.. ~. 49,.
1.-THE cradle songs. the humorous
songs. the love songs, multiplied
hundred fold. thanks to 'thc-fhfluence
Of the Jewish fireside."
NOTED COLLECTOR.
Low has spent many years in, col
Iecting ancient Jewish folk-songs,
and his works have been published
abroad, where they are considered in
dispensable|by students of Jewish
folk lore. -. co.. . co..
, On being asked what future he
prophesied for. Jewish nNsicN in,
=