Japhet & Lewandowski

IM Japhet's full name was Israel Meir Japhet. He wrote a whole book of compositions called Schire Jeschurun, which got Rav Hirsch's haskomo (I think that's the only music book with an haskomo). Shir Hamalous for Moutzoei Shabbos was composed because of Rav Hirsch's request (everyone was hurrying to work in the steel factory next to the shul, and Rav Hirsch wanted them to stay calmly until the end).
There are many well known melodies in that book, some which are on the site. I'll name a few of them:
Lecho Doudi (around 10 melodies), some melodies for Mizmor Shir Leyoum Hashabbos and Tzadik Katomor, Yiigdal (Yom tov and Yomim Nouroim), Houtzo'oh and Hochnoso (Shabbos, Yom tov and yomim nouroim), Ein Keloukeinu (Yomim norouim) and many more.

Michael

P.S. Since I'm in the US now, I don't have the book in front of me (and I don't have Rav Hamburger available), but if you'd like more data I'll be happy to add it in about 2 weeks BLN).

That could be a good idea, as long as the books don't have copyrights. I have a few e-copies of sheet music, including Lewandowski, but I don't have Japhet as an e-copy.

Michael

P.S. I would not like to write about Lewandowski yet, until I'm back in Jerusalem.

Lewandowski was the conductor of the choir in the Reform temple of Berlin. R' Shimon Schwab ZTL was once asked, why do we use his melodies, and he answered with a question - do you have something better?

We do not know how he lived his private life, but he had many Orthodox students, and his brothers were Cantors in Orthodox Shuls. When he passed away R' Azriel Hildesheimer ZTL gave a Hesped about him.

As far as all that has to do with the nusach of the Teffiloh, Lewandowski did not compose new melodies, he just beautified the original melodies. That is what he writes in his introduction, and there are many proofs to it.

Michael FRBSH

P.S. In Yerushaseinu #3, which will come out IYH in the near future, there will be an article about IM Japhet.

Lewandowski only beautified the original melodies. This statement applies to the nusach of the tefilloh, which includes anything that would be considered "Niggun Yodu'a". The melody was passed on for many generations (without any known composer), and Lewandowski did not try to write a new melody for the nusach, only to beautify the existing melody.

Of course. with regard to the melodies which are considered "Niggun Nivchor", for example Lecho Doudi, tzaddik Katomor, etc., the Lewandowski melodies are his own compositions.

Michael

Rav schwab was talking about Lewandowsky's melodies in general. As mentioned, we do not know how Lewandowsky lived his private life, but he had many Orthodox students, and all of his family was Orthodox. It would be very interesting to learn more about this, and to know Prof. Breuer's sources.
R' Azriel gave a Hesped about him, and in his shul Lewandowsky's melodies were sung. In general in Germany all the most Frum shuls used his melodies, and this was accepted by all of the Rabbonim in Germany.

If someone would like, as a Chumro, not to sing Lewandowsky - he is not following Rabbonei Ashkenaz. Rabbonei Ashkenaz accepted his melodies. A shul that doesn't go according to the Hachro'os of Rabbonei Ashkenaz, (Es Asher Hikalto Hechmarti), is not an Ashkenaz shul but an Eigene shul, where everyone does what he feels like.

Michael FRBSH

I just posted Schire Jeschurun on our site.
Please click here to download it (6MB).

Michael

Michael wrote: I just posted Schire Jeschurun on our site.
Please click here to download it (6MB).

Michael

Since the link doesn't work any more, I'm attaching it to this post.

Michael