Toronto Jewish Folk Choir
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Jewish Folk Choir is Canada
's oldest Jewish choral group. It consists of approximately 30 singers and is conducted by Alexander Veprinsky. Its repertoire, sung in four-part harmony, encompasses a wide range of secular Jewish music, classical works on Jewish themes and songs of many countries. The group specializes in Yiddish folk songs and songs of a working class character. The Choir is based at Toronto's Winchevsky Centre and is affiliated with the United Jewish People's Order.
The amateur choral group was founded in 1925 as the Freiheith Gezangs Farein (Freedom Singing Society) with Hyman Riegelhaupt as its conductor. In the late 1930s it was given its English name in an attempt to reach out to a broader audience in order to promote opposition to Nazism. The choir continues to give an annual spring concert in Toronto and performs at various Jewish festivals and events.
The choir's early repertoire consisted largely of Yiddish and Hebrew folk songs, operettas, and reflected a working class sentiment. It increased in size to 130 singers by the late 1940s, and its repertoire expanded to include Canadian folk songs as well as works by Handel
, Mendelssohn
, Schubert, and others. During this time period the choir was often accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
. Among the well-known composers who have written works for the Choir are John Weinzweig
, Louis Applebaum
, Milton Barnes
, Srul Irving Glick
, Ben Steinberg
and Leon Zuckert
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's oldest Jewish choral group. It consists of approximately 30 singers and is conducted by Alexander Veprinsky. Its repertoire, sung in four-part harmony, encompasses a wide range of secular Jewish music, classical works on Jewish themes and songs of many countries. The group specializes in Yiddish folk songs and songs of a working class character. The Choir is based at Toronto's Winchevsky Centre and is affiliated with the United Jewish People's Order.
The amateur choral group was founded in 1925 as the Freiheith Gezangs Farein (Freedom Singing Society) with Hyman Riegelhaupt as its conductor. In the late 1930s it was given its English name in an attempt to reach out to a broader audience in order to promote opposition to Nazism. The choir continues to give an annual spring concert in Toronto and performs at various Jewish festivals and events.
The choir's early repertoire consisted largely of Yiddish and Hebrew folk songs, operettas, and reflected a working class sentiment. It increased in size to 130 singers by the late 1940s, and its repertoire expanded to include Canadian folk songs as well as works by Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
, Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
, Schubert, and others. During this time period the choir was often accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
. Among the well-known composers who have written works for the Choir are John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...
, Louis Applebaum
Louis Applebaum
Louis Applebaum, was a Canadian composer, administrator, and conductor.He was born in Toronto, Ontario and studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Leo Smith and the University of Toronto with Boris Berlin, Healey Willan and Ernest MacMillan...
, Milton Barnes
Milton Barnes (composer)
Milton Barnes was a Canadian composer, conductor, and jazz drummer. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, his music is noted for its frequent use of Jewish themes, its rejection of the avant garde in favor of tonality, and its blend of classical, jazz, and pop elements. His music has been...
, Srul Irving Glick
Srul Irving Glick
Srul Irving Glick, CM was a Canadian composer, radio producer, conductor, and teacher.Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto 1955, and a Masters of Music , honorary FRCCO...
, Ben Steinberg
Ben Steinberg
Ben Steinberg is a Canadian composer, conductor, organist, and music educator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he is particularly known for his contributions to Jewish music...
and Leon Zuckert
León Zuckert
León Zuckert was a Canadian composer, conductor, arranger, violinist, violist and radio pioneer of Ukrainian descent. He was married to the poet Ella Bobrow, with whom he collaborated on many songs....
.