Israel Schorr

Israel Schorr (1886 - April 9, 1935) was a prominent cantor during the Golden Age of Hazzanut. Born in Khyriv, the Polish region of Galicia then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to a Hasidic family, Schorr began his career as a boy, singing soprano in the courts of various Hasidic masters, notably the Rebbe (Grand Rabbi) of Rymanow. In 1904, Schorr replaced his distant relative Hazzan Boruch Schorr as the official cantor for the rebbe of Rymanów.

During World War I, Schorr served in the Imperial army of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the war, he took various cantorial posts in central and eastern Europe, including Brno in Czechoslovakia, Kraków in Poland and a brief stint in Zürich, Switzerland. With help from Congressman Sol Bloom of Chicago, Schorr emigrated to the United States in 1924 on an artist's visa to accept a position in Chicago. He later served in cantorial positions in New York City. Some of his family still live in New York, and the city of Boston. Massachusetts. He also performed frequently, most importantly with the master cantor Yossele Rosenblatt.

Apart from performing the traditional pieces of the Jewish liturgy, Schorr also wrote liturgical pieces. He introduced improvisational lines to the pieces, many of which were later adopted by other prominent cantors. His best-known piece in this style is Sheyibone Beis HaMikdosh, which was modified by Cantor Moshe Koussevitzky.

Schorr died prematurely of a heart condition in 1935. His son, Morris Schorr, went on to become a cantor in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was one of the founding members of the Cantor's Assembly.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 9, 1886 (Khyriv), Died April 9, 1935 (United States of America)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

Notes: Listed in Victor ledgers as Cantor Israel Schorr and Rev. Israel Schorr.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-35634 12-in. 5/27/1926 Ov horachmim Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Victor CVE-35635 12-in. 5/27/1926 Ov horachmim Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Victor [Trial 1925-03-09-03] 10-in. 3/9/1925 Welereshulaem Israel Schorr Male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick XE23693-XE23694 12-in. 6/21/1927 Veilirusholeim Jircho Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick XE23695-XE23696 12-in. 6/21/1927 Leifichoch anachnu Chajowim Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick XE23697-XE23698 12-in. 6/21/1927 Ribon Hoeilomin Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick XE23699-XE23700 12-in. 6/21/1927 Ribon Hoeilomin Israel Schorr Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Schorr, Israel," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111142.

Schorr, Israel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111142.

"Schorr, Israel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111142

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