MOROGOWSKI, JACOB SAMUEL

MOROGOWSKI, JACOB SAMUEL ("Zaydl Rovner "; 1856–1942), ḥazzan, composer, and conductor. Born in Radomyshl, Ukraine, Morogowski in his youth worked as a flour merchant, at the same time serving as the "musician" of the Makarov Rabbi Twersky. His fame as a ḥazzan began to spread after the rabbi ordered him to officiate in the High Holy Day services of his bet ha-midrash. He then officiated as ḥazzan for five years in Kiev, where he studied music under the violinist Podhozer, and from 1881 to 1914 he officiated as ḥazzan in the communities of Zaslavl, Rovno (hence the name "Zaydl Rovner"), Kishinev (as the successor of Nisan *Belzer), Berdichev (as the successor of Yeruḥam ha-Katan *Blindman), London, and Lemberg, from where he returned to Rovno. In all these posts he was accompanied by a large choir, and for weekday services and festive occasions he also made use of an orchestra. His compositions enthralled his audiences and brought him worldwide fame. In 1914, Morogowski emigrated to the United States, where he remained until his death. He left a rich musical treasury of prayers for ḥazzan, choir and orchestra as well as marches. All his works were characterized by a true prayer style, fervent religious feeling, and ḥasidic melody. Hundreds of ḥazzanim considered themselves as his disciples. Some of his published compositions are Halleluyah, for choir and orchestra (1897); Kinos (Heb. text, 1922); Uhawti, for choir and orchestra (1899); and Tisborach (1874).

bibliography:

Sendrey, Music, nos. 3530, 5689 – 91; Di Shul un Khazonim Velt, 3 (1939); Cantors' Association of the United States and Canada, Di Geshikhte fun Khazones (1924), 92; A. Zaludkowski, Kultur-Treger fun der Idisher Liturgie (1930), 310; A. Friedmann, Lebensbilder beruehmter Kantoren…, 3 (1927), 121; H. Harris, Toledot ha-Neginah ve-ha-Ḥazzanut be-Yisrael (1950), 433.

[Joshua Leib Ne'eman]