David koussevitzky biography
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......Moshe Koussevitzky was born on June 9th 1899 at Smargon and came from a background of Cantors. He was the oldest of four brothers, Jacob, Simcha and David; each of whom went on to become famous Chazanim in their own right. Moshe began his singing career at the age of eight as an alto in the choir of Chazan Shlepak. Like many artistic people, he could not only sing, but he was also gifted with his hands. As he grew up he toyed with the idea of becoming an artist or a sculptor. Fortunately, however, he accepted a position as Chazan at the Vilna 'Savel's Shul' and in 1927 he auditioned for the plum position in Poland at the 'Tlomazke Shul' in Warsaw where, against the finest opposition, he was awarded the post. He took the opportunity to study voice and music, and throughout his life he always learned Torah.
Being in such an illustrious Cantorial postion, his fame spread around Europe very rapidly and soon
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The Four dirigent Boys Part 1
Cantorial Comments
By
Cantor Elihu Feldman
This article fryst vatten dedicated to the blessed memory of a family of great cantors, two of whom, as a child, inom had the privilege to hear conduct Shabbat services monthly. inom want to acknowledge assistance for this article to Cantor Ivan Oppenheim of Holland and to Rabbi Geoffery Shisler, from Great Britain for biographical kunskap on Cantors Moshe, David and Jacob Koussevitzky. inom also want to thank Fay Singer from Capetown, South Africa for biographical material on Cantor Simcha Koussevitsky.
For those of you who may not know it, Cantors Moshe and David Koussevitsky had a profound effect on me as a youngster and as a young man growing up. For, very few times in life have inom been inspired with so much awe and reverence for G-d; that inom was motivated to pray with all my heart and soul. These times, though, were very special and occurred when inom prayed while these cantors were leading services.
Before inom tell yo
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David Koussevitzky
1912 - 1985
By Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler
It would be a very brave person who would unequivocally state that any one of the four Koussevitzky brothers, Moshe, David, Jacob and Simcha, was the best. They were all known for individual qualities and, in truth, each was an outstanding Chazan in his own right.
David certainly had a most unusual voice, and was able to maintain long phrases on very high notes. Others have tried to copy him, but few have succeeded in coming anywhere near the excitement that he could generate by his extraordinary singing - which I once heard him attribute to the particular bone-structure of his face.
I often felt that listening to David sing, was akin to watching a tight-rope walker high above the Victoria Falls. The excitement is generated by the possibility that he might actually fall off. The attraction of listening to David Koussevitzky was the possibility that his voice might crack. To the best of my