"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. RIP will continue until September 25th. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
Itzchok Reev Smolover was born in the Ukraine on January 15th 1921, though his family soon made their way through Europe after suffering persecution during 'pogroms' against the Jewish people there, eventually settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He started his musical journey at the age of 8, as a boy soprano soloist in orthodox synagogues, and also as a singer in 'gospel tents'.
Gaining US citizenship, he developed into a leading 'cantor' in the Reform Jewish movement, becoming a progressive clergyman dedicated to interfaith collaboration, an operatic and concert tenor, and also a noted composer, librettist, teacher, author, and scholar.
He founded and directed the Opera Theatre of Westchester, which in the late 1950s and early 1960s had commissioned and produced six chamber operas on Jewish themes, and performed them throughout the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
Smolover wrote the 'libretti', and performed leading roles for all six operas. Though a 'cantor' and singer devoted primarily to performing music by others, he composed among other things a cantata, several art songs and liturgical settings, and two 'folk rock' sacred services: "Edge of Freedom" (1967) and "Gates of Freedom" (1970). He once claimed that he was inspired by hearing Bob Dylan records which his son played at home.
One of his most notable students was Richard Kiley, and he was the author of several publications on the art of singing, including "The Singer's Handbook", "Vocal Behavior Analysis and Modification", and "Sing Your Best". Smolover served as 'cantor' for more than 40 years at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, New York. He was also the executive vice president of the 'American Conference of Cantors' for over three decades.
7 Comments (since 21 Sep 2015)
rest_in_peace
"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. RIP will continue until September 25th. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
rest_in_peace
Itzchok Reev Smolover was born in the Ukraine on January 15th 1921, though his family soon made their way through Europe after suffering persecution during 'pogroms' against the Jewish people there, eventually settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He started his musical journey at the age of 8, as a boy soprano soloist in orthodox synagogues, and also as a singer in 'gospel tents'.
rest_in_peace
Gaining US citizenship, he developed into a leading 'cantor' in the Reform Jewish movement, becoming a progressive clergyman dedicated to interfaith collaboration, an operatic and concert tenor, and also a noted composer, librettist, teacher, author, and scholar.
rest_in_peace
He founded and directed the Opera Theatre of Westchester, which in the late 1950s and early 1960s had commissioned and produced six chamber operas on Jewish themes, and performed them throughout the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
rest_in_peace
Smolover wrote the 'libretti', and performed leading roles for all six operas. Though a 'cantor' and singer devoted primarily to performing music by others, he composed among other things a cantata, several art songs and liturgical settings, and two 'folk rock' sacred services: "Edge of Freedom" (1967) and "Gates of Freedom" (1970). He once claimed that he was inspired by hearing Bob Dylan records which his son played at home.
rest_in_peace
One of his most notable students was Richard Kiley, and he was the author of several publications on the art of singing, including "The Singer's Handbook", "Vocal Behavior Analysis and Modification", and "Sing Your Best". Smolover served as 'cantor' for more than 40 years at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, New York. He was also the executive vice president of the 'American Conference of Cantors' for over three decades.
rest_in_peace
Ray Smolover died on September 11th 2015 in Scarsdale, New York, aged 94. He was married to his junior high school sweetheart Evelyn Ada Goltz Smolover for 62 years, and is survived by his three children. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lohud/obituary.aspx?n=raymond-smolover&pid;=175829365&fhid;=21960