Joseph Rosenblatt

May 9, 1882 (age 51)

At eight years of age Joseph was already touring Central Europe, officiating as boy-cantor in synagogues of Germany and Austria and giving sacred concerts. His chief protector, Dr. Bloch, editor of the Vienna Wochenschrift, was extremely active in fostering and glorifying this wonder-boy. At fourteen, Rosenblatt began to compose, and in 1900, when he was eighteen, he received his first appointment, that of cantor of the Munkacs synagogue in Hungary. Soon after, in competition with forty others, he won the coveted position of chief cantor in Pressburg, a major Austrian city. In 1906 he became the chief cantor at the largest Hamburg synagogue, one of the most prominent positions in the Jewish cantorate, but even this success did not stop his ardent studies in music. His fame brought him at last, in May 1912, an invitation to officiate at the Ohab Tzedek Congregation of New York and he then emigrated to America, destined soon to become one of the most beloved singers of the country of his adoption. Possessing a nature of rare kindliness and generosity, he was easily persuaded to tour the United States in 1916 for the benefit of sufferers in the World War. His first great triumph took place on May 19, 1918, however, when a concert of classical, secular, and synagogal music at Carnegie Hall, New York, brought him enthusiastic acclaim from the public and the press. He immediately received lucrative and flattering offers from the Chicago Opera Company and other operatic organizations; but his strong Orthodox convictions, as well as a noble conception of his duties to Levitical functions and the worldly behavior appropriate to the same, made him firmly refuse all offers of operatic appearance. A Jewish paper to which he had given financial support failed in 1926, involving him in a heavy indebtedness. He then resigned his position as cantor that he might earn money on the concert stage to meet his obligations. In 1923 he gave brilliant concerts in almost every European country. In 1928 he again gave concerts in Europe, and in 1929, in South America. Finally, in March 1933 he was able to realize his life-dream, that of visiting and concertizing in Palestine. His career was cut short, however, by his death, in Jerusalem, after a short illness, when he was at the height of his artistic power and fame. He was buried on the Mount of Olives, twenty thousand people attending his funeral.

Joseph Rosenblatt Edit Profile

composer singer

Background

Joseph Rosenblatt was born on the 9th of May 1882 in a small South Russian town Bila Tserkva, near Kiev, capital of the Ukraine. He was the tenth child of Raphael Shalom and Sarah (Prylutzky) Rosenblatt. His father was a synagogue precentor of some ability.

Career

At eight years of age Joseph was already touring Central Europe, officiating as boy-cantor in synagogues of Germany and Austria and giving sacred concerts. His chief protector, Dr. Bloch, editor of the Vienna Wochenschrift, was extremely active in fostering and glorifying this wonder-boy. At fourteen, Rosenblatt began to compose, and in 1900, when he was eighteen, he received his first appointment, that of cantor of the Munkacs synagogue in Hungary.

Soon after, in competition with forty others, he won the coveted position of chief cantor in Pressburg, a major Austrian city. In 1906 he became the chief cantor at the largest Hamburg synagogue, one of the most prominent positions in the Jewish cantorate, but even this success did not stop his ardent studies in music.

His fame brought him at last, in May 1912, an invitation to officiate at the Ohab Tzedek Congregation of New York and he then emigrated to America, destined soon to become one of the most beloved singers of the country of his adoption. Possessing a nature of rare kindliness and generosity, he was easily persuaded to tour the United States in 1916 for the benefit of sufferers in the World War.

His first great triumph took place on May 19, 1918, however, when a concert of classical, secular, and synagogal music at Carnegie Hall, New York, brought him enthusiastic acclaim from the public and the press. He immediately received lucrative and flattering offers from the Chicago Opera Company and other operatic organizations; but his strong Orthodox convictions, as well as a noble conception of his duties to Levitical functions and the worldly behavior appropriate to the same, made him firmly refuse all offers of operatic appearance.

A Jewish paper to which he had given financial support failed in 1926, involving him in a heavy indebtedness. He then resigned his position as cantor that he might earn money on the concert stage to meet his obligations. In 1923 he gave brilliant concerts in almost every European country. In 1928 he again gave concerts in Europe, and in 1929, in South America. Finally, in March 1933 he was able to realize his life-dream, that of visiting and concertizing in Palestine. His career was cut short, however, by his death, in Jerusalem, after a short illness, when he was at the height of his artistic power and fame. He was buried on the Mount of Olives, twenty thousand people attending his funeral.

Achievements

Rosenblatt was famous as a singer for the ease, flexibility, power, and brilliance of his tenor voice. He was endowed with a natural vocal virtuosity, faultless pitch, and a falsetto that was world-known. Rosenblatt left a number of compositions, among them a choral setting for Psalm CXIII, dedicated to President Harding; an effective synagogal Uvnucho Yomar for cantor and choir; and a collection of his own cantorial recitatives, published in Hamburg and New York. Of these synagogal songs the most interesting is "Elohai neshomo" (My Lord, the soul, you have given me) and "K'gavno. " They have a modal freshness and a spiritual charm that come from the true Hebrew melodic instinct and the fineness of the composer's soul.

Works

Umipneh Chatoenu (Recorded 1920) Umipneh Chatoenu (Recorded 1920)

Yaale (Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt and his son Henry) Yaale (Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt and his son Henry)

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Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt Sings His Original Compositions, LP Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt Sings His Original Compositions, LP

Yossele Rosenblatt the Earliest Recordings Yossele Rosenblatt the Earliest Recordings

book
- Yossele Rosenblatt the Earliest Recordings
  (Track Listing Mi Sheberach 2:02 Tikanto Shabbos 2:42 M'ki...)
- Joseph Rosenblatt's Prayer for the Titanic ; KOL Nidre.
  (JOSEPH ROSENBLATT; First Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zade...)
- Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt Sings His Original Compositions, LP
  (12" GREATER RECORDING LP)
- Umipneh Chatoenu (Recorded 1920)
- Yaale (Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt and his son Henry)
- book
- book
- book
- A Nacht fun Liebe: A Heim - Introduction to second segment
- Tikanto Shabbos

Connections

In 1900 Joseph married to Taube Kaufman, member of a prominent family of Brzesko, Austria. His wife and eight children survived him.

Father:: Raphael Shalom Rosenblatt
Mother:: Sarah (Prylutzky) Rosenblatt
Spouse:: Taube (Kaufman) Rosenblatt

Main Photo