MUSIC OF POLISH SYNAGOGUES

One of the most important elements of my project was archival research aimed at locating and documenting forgotten works of synagogue music that were once composed and performed in the territories of present-day Poland. Over the course of several months, I visited a number of exceptionally valuable and inspiring places, including archives and institutions in Stockholm, Jerusalem, Paris, Warsaw, Berlin, and Vienna. I also conducted remote research in, among others, the collections of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati—one of the world’s most important repositories of Jewish music.

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The works I rediscovered originate from synagogues in Białystok, Włocławek, Poznań, Warsaw, Kraków, Königsberg, Tykocin, Łódź, Częstochowa, Lviv, and many other cities that before the war were vibrant centers of Jewish religious and cultural life. The diversity of the materials is immense—from simple cantorial melodic sketches preserved only as a single melodic line to complete, virtuosic choral-and-organ compositions demanding high technical and musical proficiency from both soloists and vocal ensembles.

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During this work, I encountered many kind and deeply committed individuals—directors of institutions, scholars, musicians, librarians, archivists, and specialists from various fields. Their openness, expertise, and willingness to share resources and experience have been an invaluable support to me. This collaboration also demonstrates how important and timely research into the heritage of Jewish music remains, and how much still awaits discovery.