Evolution of my personal קבלת שבת Kabbalat Shabbat

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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.