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Pierre Pinchik

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pierre Pinchik (Yiddish: פינחס פינטשיק Pinkhas Pintshik, Russian: Пьер Пинчик P'yer Pinchik; 1893–1971), born Pinchas Segal, was a famous Hazzan from the period of the Cantorial golden age. He was also a composer of cantorial and Yiddish music and a singer of Yiddish folk songs. He especially known for his versions of Rozo D'shabbos and Ribono Shel Olom.

Biography

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Early life

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Pinchik was born Pinchas Sigal in Novozhyvotiv, Vinnytsia Oblast, then part of the Russian Empire. Various dates are given for his birth year including 1897,[1] or 1900.[2] However, on most US government documents it is listed as March 16, 1893.[3][4] As a youth he attended a Yeshiva of the Skverer Hasidim, where he was exposed to cantorial music.[2] In his teen years he moved to Kyiv to live with his grandfather, who was a bookseller, and to continue his Talmudic studies.[5] During that time a teacher in his Yeshiva observed his excellent singing voice and urged him to take piano lessons.[1] He then enrolled in the Kyiv Conservatory, where he studied for four years.[5]

Musical career

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Pinchik made his musical debut singing in the Great Choral Synagogue in Kyiv in 1913.[1] He soon began touring with Russian opera groups and theatre troupes.[1] During the Russian Revolution, Pinchik was drafted into the Red Army in an artists' brigade.[2] He was asked to compose revolutionary songs in Yiddish, which he did based on his knowledge of traditional folk and religious modes and melodies.[2] He subsequently toured the Soviet Union giving concerts of Yiddish folk songs, and it was during this time that he adopted the stage name Pierre Pinchik.[5]

From 1923 to 1925 or 1926 he became the cantor of the Leningrad Synagogue, a role previously held by famous cantors such as David Roitman and Zavel Kwartin.[5] During his tenure there he was asked to perform Nineteenth-century compositions from the German synagogue tradition, which he felt did not match his tastes or singing style.[2] Thus he reworked them into new styles that better matched his voice.[2]

Around 1925, Pinchik obtained permission to leave Russia on tour, with the help of poet Itzik Feffer.[2] He performed in various European cities before travelling to the United States in 1926 on a tour arranged by Joseph Hyman, who apparently heard about Pinchik from Fyodor Chaliapin.[2] His tour was very successful, and in 1928 RCA Victor offered him an exclusive recording contract.[2] He recorded a great number of 78 rpm albums for them during the late 1920s and early 1930s, many of which have been reissued in the years since. As well, on a musical level, the originality of his cantorial compositions made quite an impression on the American scene, inspiring a number of imitators.[6] His Rozo D'shabbos in particular has been said many times to have caused a minor revolution in cantorial style.[7][8] He also continued to take an interest in adapting Yiddish poems to song: I.L. Peretz, H. Leivick, A. Lutsky and others were among his favourite sources for material.[9]

In 1937 he became a naturalized US citizen.[10]

Pinchik did not take on a permanent posting at a synagogue in the United States, preferring to perform in various synagogues, halls and temporary spaces around the country as needed. For a number of years, he officiated at the K'nesset Israel Nusah S'fard in Chicago.[2]

Pinchik died in New York City on January 7, 1971. He had been one of the last living cantors from the so-called Cantorial Golden Age.[11]

He was not strictly Orthodox, though he led prayers for many Orthodox congregations.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d The Art of Cantor Pierre Pinchik Volume 2 (Media notes). Greater Recording Co. 1972.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Levin, Neil W. "Pinchik, Pierre". Milken Archive of Jewish Music. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Pierre Sigal Pinchik United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Pierre Pinchik United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Two Sides of Pinchik: Cantorial Chants, Yiddish Folk Songs (Media notes). Collector's Guild. 1962.
  6. ^ Edlin, William (1944). Der Uḳrayner Id in Uḳrayne un Ameriḳe (in Yiddish). New York: Aroysgegebn fun der natsyonaler ḳonferents fun Uḳrayner Idishe organizatsyes fun Idishin ḳaunsil far Roshyen ṿor relif. pp. 108–9.
  7. ^ Yardeini, Mordecai (1979). Ṿort un ḳlang eseyen, eseyeṭn, eseyeṭḳes, poetsye, Vol.1 (in Yiddish). New York: Farlag Malkah. p. 198.
  8. ^ Yardeini, Mordecai (1979). Ṿort un ḳlang eseyen, eseyeṭn, eseyeṭḳes, poetsye, Vol.2 (in Yiddish). New York: Farlag Malkah. p. 173.
  9. ^ Yardeini, Mordecai (1979). Ṿort un ḳlang eseyen, eseyeṭn, eseyeṭḳes, poetsye, Vol.2 (in Yiddish). New York: Farlag Malkah. p. 174.
  10. ^ "Pierre Sigal Pinchik New York, Eastern District Naturalization Petitions, Index, 1865-1957". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Shisler, G. "Pierre Pinchik". www.chazzanut.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "A Soundtrack Of The Jewish People". Moment Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
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