Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A "Behind The Scenes" Peek at the Famous Choir of KAJ

The KAJ choir was introduced in Germany by Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch. The choir was reintroduced in the United States by Rav Breuer over seventy years ago and has sung on a regular basis since then with the exception of a few weeks off during the summer months owing to the absence of some of the choir members who are away on vacation. Rather than consisting of paid professionals, the choir is comprised of volunteer amateur men and boys who are members or children of members of the kehilla. The choir’s conductors have also always been volunteer members of the kehilla. The choir has always had professional musical directors who have taught and trained the members at their weekly rehearsals. The purpose of the choir is to lead the kehilla in the singing adding a sense of dignity and majesty to the avodah in the bais haknesses.  

KAJ's choir is often asked to sing at weddings and has also periodically presented their Shiro V’Zimroh concerts when they have been joined by such greats as Chazzan Joseph Malovany along with other guest chazzonim. The choir’s reputation for their beautiful renditions and perpetuation of the kehilla’s traditional melodies as well as the occasional introduction of new and fitting melodies has gained them worldwide renown especially as it is one of if not the last shul choir of it’s type.

Many people may not realize all the hard work and dedication that goes into the choir's seemingly effortless performances.  Their extensive repertoire necessitates weekly rehearsals, where they not only review the music and the nuances, but they are given voice training as well.

You, my readers are being given a rare treat.  I am going to share with you a look at KAJ's Choir rehearsing.









(If you made it all this way and still want more, there are some warm up exercises on my YouTube playlist)

Please also be aware that this is raw rehearsal footage. Any constructive criticisms contained therein should be viewed as just that.



17 comments:

efrex said...

While I'm not going to be able to hear this for another week or so (music & sefirah being one of the few things that I'm crazy machmir on), I'm looking forward to it.

The entire philosophy of the choir is one that never fails to move me, and the amount of work that they put in to enhancing the beauty and dignity of the tefilla is incredible.

Tzvi said...

Wow!
Thanks for taking the trouble to share this. It's no wonder that the davening in KAJ has such majesty.
efrex, I'm no posek, but the keyboard on these videos is being used mostly to give them the key.
It's pretty much an acapella performance.

Louisa said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Louisa said...

I have not listened yet, but I am writing to thank you so much for posting these. First of all, my parents have still never heard the choir and I am excited that they get to see so much of the work...secondly, I just love the choir. I don't know if it is fair to say this, but in a lot of ways, the choir was mekarev me - I don't know I'd be in the Breuer's world without it. Not sure if I'd even stay a member without it. I even sent it to friends of mine in Germany, who are also enthusiasts! (Jews, naturally). And lastly, the men who do this - I don't know if they know how big a tova they do the world, every Shabbos. Sometimes, it's been what has gotten me through the week. Seriously. Thank G-d we have such a thing like this left in the world.

Chaim said...

Absolutely beautiful.

a real Jekkische supporter said...

May Chazzon Frankel be remembered and the tradition he ironly supported be uphold and saveguarded!

G6 said...

I am overwhelmed by the amount of positive feedback this post has generated on the blog, but even moreso via email.
I was floored by the global interest, evidenced by the number of blogs that picked up these videos and posted them (2 blogs managed to post them before I did!!!) including but not limited to:
Gruntig
Yideo
Jewish Music Plus

harry-er than them all said...

ahhhh....looking forward

Yekkishe Bekishe said...

BTW, I think you should have mentioned that the Chazzon - Rabbi Ezra Lasdun - was in all of the clips. The fact that he is just part of the group - without sticking out - & that most people wouldn't know him for who he is says a lot about the Kehillah!

Anonymous said...

So true!
With a man like that, I'm not sure why the Kehilla feels it necessary to look elsewhere for a chazzan...

REALLY NOT ANONYMOUS said...

Yekkishe Bekishe, I agree with you about Ezra Lasdun, but what says even more about the people who have been our Chazzonim is that Ezra Hes would sing as a member of the choir on the weeks that he was not "on". The absolute lack of Geiva among our Ezra Chazzonim is one of the true highlights of what Washington Heights represents. They are truly role models for what we has always been the beauty of our Mesora.

Chana said...

This choir is emblematic of what makes KAJ so special...not just formal, but special. There is a wonderful willingness to simply be, not to attempt to pretend to "look Jewish" - but to be oneself - that is evidenced in the conduct of those folks who don't shuckle or wear their talleisim over their hats, but simply daven in the way that they were taught. They are not out to be an identity piece. They just are. The choir is part of all that. A whole community just being, just being itself. It is one of the few things I've ever witnessed that feels truly un-disrupted, ironically, by the dislocation of war and so forth...most American yeshivish life is an experiment. An American experiment. It is, Baruch Hashem, successful - but it is in some ways not linked so strongly with the past: not because it refuses to be but because it cannot be - it is a new creation. And that's beautiful! But it is also beautiful that KAJ has managed to continue on from something and really build on something - that kind of continuity is precious because we Jews have it in short supply. I hope I can look forward to seeing it go on for a long time.

donniel said...

kudos! I enjoyed it very much

Ztemohc Relgoog said...

Many things have changed recently in KAJ recently but thankfully the choir is not one of them. The choir is one constant that I look forward too whenever I'm in Shul. These guys work harder than anyone gives them credit for, so thanks for giving us a behind the scenes look...

Anonymous said...

I always thought that when davening or singing and not saying Hashem's name, you are supposed to say "hashem" and NOT "A-do-shem" because the daled is part of the actual shaim hashem

Gavi said...

There are similar choirs in other synagogues - KAYJ comes to mind: they post recordings on their website.

Seriously, the KAJ choir is a reason why I am considering moving to the Heights (as my brother wants to leave!).

G6 said...

Gavi -
I you do move to the Heights, please contact us and join us for a meal.
I promise good "choir conversation" ;)