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A great spiritual experience at no charge.J. She can soar or gently caress the music or, on occasions, simply blow the walls off. Magnificent music by a great musician with a rich and exquisite voice. Thanks for offering both recordings by Cantor Garfein. Hall The recording, made live eleven years ago, is a marvelously inspiring musical listening experience today and was obviously recognized then by a moved and appreciative audience which responded with prolonged and vigorous applause.The other recording, Golden Chants in America, cut several years later with the advantages of current professional studio technology, is a monument to the history of Jewish music in America over 350 years and Cantor Garfein's soaring voice brings it to vibrant life. The first, Sacred Chants of the Contemporary Synagogue, has great significance as Cantor Garfein was the first female Cantor to be invited to perform in Berlin post WWII. A masterpiece of music and dedication.Should you find yourself in Manhattan and want to enjoy a wonderful musical treat, drop by any of the services of Rodeph Sholom and listen to Cantor Garfein sing in that incredible sanctuary.
ok. Certainly she doesn't sound as though she's had a voice coach in the last 15 years or so; I hope she gets one. I am sitting here trying to think of something nice to say about this singer's voice; I'm sorry, but I just can't find anything. SOMETIMES) hit notes, but lacks anything approaching vocal control. Meanwhile, I'll be putting the album up for sale, as I can't even stand to listen to it.Spend your money someplace else. Despite the training (Bachelor of Music from Rice University) that the album insert says that she has had, she can't hold a pitch, has a wild vibrato, and goes flat so many times I was gritting my teeth by the end of the first track. She's what many of my choir directors would have called a "Screamin' soprano" who can (most of the time.
(I adored Beverly Sills in so many ways, but didn't enjoy most of her singing beyond the early 70s). Yet your hearing of this might be different. The quality of Cantor Garfein's rich mezzo invites me in, but her pitch control and technique quickly shut the door. If you share this experience, I would stay away from this recording. Her attacks are all swoops and scoops (something delicious and effective in small measures) and I'm left longing for her to hit the note head on without sliding into it. The Reform movement has such an achingly beautiful cantorial tradition, not sufficiently recorded for my taste.
Alas, I find it hard to listen to. I am neither a musician nor an expert, but I am sensitive to pitch and control issues that some don't notice. And Cantor Garfein's credentials and reputation are sterling. Sometimes, as in "Mah Tovu", it seems to take her so long to settle into the note, I'm not sure what note she's singing. Otherwise you might find much to treasure. So I approached this recording with anticipation and a strong disposition to love it.
The vibrato is constant and without nuance, and at times broadens to a wobble.
I almost purchased it without listening, when I found a different site, where they actually have rather long excerpts (2 min). It took all the charm and candor right out of the song (in the show, they had a much more natural voice do the song). Ok, maybe it was not the best reason to want to buy this CD, but I heard one of the songs on it, Hashkiveynu, performed (partially) during an episode of the West Wing, and it sounded AMAZING (it was NOT the same cantor as on this CD).
Relieved that I didn't buy the CD and disappointed that I couldn't get the song I wanted (I was willing to buy a whole CD for just 1 song, that's how much it impressed me).The song sounds very little like the one from the West Wing, although I do believe that the site where I found the info speficially pointed to this CD as having a recording of the same song used in the show. I also agree that the choir does not mesh well with the soloist.If anyone knows where and if I can purchase a recording of this song done by a different singer (if it can be the one from the West Wing, I'll be thrilled), please, let me know. And I'm sorry to say it but the voice also doesn't hold a candle to the one used on the show - way too "operatic", as mentioned by many, and harsh and even unpleasant-sounding to me.
Hmm. Boy, was I relieved and disappointed at once. In the meantime, I'm passing on this CD.
I am not Jewish and not even very spiritual, but I wanted to have that song in my collection.I immediately searched the web for the info, got the name of the chant and found this CD. of most tracks, so I listened to them.
What a voice.
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