"My friend and teacher, Rabbi/Cantor Samuel Linkovsky z'l, passed away at a considerably young age. To commemorate the first Yurtzait, Samuel's final CD recording entitled 'Sh'ma Yisrael' has been released by his family.
The beauty of Samuel's voice lay not just in his beautiful coloratura, but also in his ability to project the meaning of liturgy through his entire being. It is impossible to remain indifferent, when listening to his singing.
This highly professional and uniquely arranged recording includes selections from different genres: Classical Chazzanut with a modern flavor, Israeli Chassidic Festival melodies, and an original arrangement of a long forgotten Yiddish song."
The recording seems to be a family project. You can order the disc and read more about Linkovsky at the website RememberTheCantor.com. In the meantime, here are some samples to listen to.
Areshet
Shema Yisrael
Kadshienu
Tatzin Yiddalach
Shema Yisrael
Kadshienu
Tatzin Yiddalach
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12 comments:
I knew Sam. A phenomenal musician, a great mentor, and a man of exceptional personal magnetism. He taught me Shabbos Preliminaries, Musaf, Anim Zmirot, among other pieces. I am privileged to have known him. Remembering his singing vividly from his time in Regina, I must caution readers that this album is a poor representation of the man's true art. The background tracks are in the worst taste imaginable and Sam is far from peak form. Before he left our congregation, he gave us a humbly produced audio cassette to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a Florida Shul - that effort alone preserves his true talent much better than the current effort. An artist as Sam deserves better than. RIP Sam.
Thanks for sharing the personal memory. I'm sorry to hear that the album doesn't represent Cantor Linkovsky well. That's a shame. If anyone was interested, is there any possibility of copying the audio cassette?
Check your email, Jack!
http://chazanut.org/user/libsonmo/Samuel%20Linkovsky%20-%2001%20-%20ato%20yatzarto.mp3
The Next Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh.
Listen to Ato Yatzarto from the cassete "Samuel Linkovsky in Concert"
יהי זכרו ברוך
^ Sincere thanks for that!
If at all possible, I would love a copy of the Florida tape too--since I belong to the synagogue in Sunrise, Fl that Sam sang in. Also my family beloged to the synagogue in Columbus that his father sang in and were neighbors. Sam taught my daughter her bat mitzvah and we were very sad that he left Florida.
I also knew Cantor Samuel Linkovsky very well. And I have this CD, It's fabulous!! I think everyone needs to decide for themself whether it's a worth while recording. Of course, there is no comparison to listening live to him in Shul, when Cantor Samuel Linkovsky davened, but this CD is a great tribute to him. You may contact his wife, Alla (718) 668-1104 if you are interested in getting this CD or any other recording.
With all due respect, the writer from Regina does not know vocal quality. Samuel Linkovsky was a true gift from Hashem with his cantorial excellence. As an insider, that tape gave Sam additional months to live because it was something, as all music was, important for him to accomplish before his death. He wanted to share hazzanut with the world and leave something meaningful to his family and friends. As a member of one of his congregations and someone who appreciate true hazzanut, his CD will always be a lasting memory to this exceptional talent. I have never heard, nor ever expect to hear, any Cantor with the voice that was gifted to Rabbi/Cantor Samuel Linkovsky. As for the music background, it is the finest background that truly compliments and enhances Sam's gifted voice. I will leave it to each listener --if you truly know hazzanut -- you will recognize giftedness when you hear it. I miss you Sam,your true hazzanut, and your friendship. I listen to your CDC weekly because I don't ever want to forget you. RIP
This CD should be purchased by any one who truly appreciates hazzanut. To copy it, is an afront to the cantor and, plagurism, and indicative of being cheap.
To the anonymous reader who commented about purchasing, not copying, the CD. I agree with you whole-heartedly. Copying music is, in most cases, against American copywrite law and against Halacha. To clarify, the tape that we were discussing copying is NOT the CD that is available for sale but a privately released audio cassette of a concert that is not available for purchase at any price from any source. If you feel that it is in appropriate to copy such a tape, then don't. I humbly disagree and priortize the preservation and distribution of our culture.
Sam was the ultimate Chazen and Rabbi. To sing as he has in shul and on this, his final cd, one must have a feeling deep in his soul for the meaning of the words. He was truly Mr. Hineni.
Sam could tell who the cantor was who wrote a piece and/or performed it from the first few notes of a recording. His love of opera as well as Chazzanus brought to the synagogue a depth and width of performance seldom if ever equaled by onyone else.
The cd is well worth purchasing to hear the amazing quality, beauty, and range of his voice as well as the many different styles which he could get into and exceed in.
I was blessed to attend Samuel’s services and to hear him singing live. Moreover, I had the privilege of being taught, guided and coached by Samuel before I became an ordained cantor. I am also a professional musician.
Here’s what I think. We could agree to disagree, and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.
It is not about one’s musical expertise. It is a matter of taste.
And when it comes to mine- I LOVE IT!!! Everything on this CD is appealing to me, including the professional, wonderful arrangement.
I have no doubt, that everyone of us who were blessed to know Samuel Linkovsky, either as a chazzan, or a friend or a congregant, loved him and will cherish the memory of him in our hearts as long as we live. I also would like to believe that all of us want his voice to be heard as much as possible and for as long as possible. This is the reason why seeing a negative comment about this CD was so upsetting to me.
I don’t think that Samuel Linkovsky needs someone to defend him.
His work, which includes the perfect combination of a wonderful NESHAMA and a great voice, not to mention his exquisite taste in music, his high personal standards when it came to his performances, all of that and much more, speak for themselves.
Those of us who were close to him by the end of his short life and knew of his physical challenges are amazed and in awe of how he could possibly achieve this high quality recording. Yes, it was a great achievement for Samuel. And HE DID IT!!!
Please, let’s stop dwelling on our differences in taste. Let’s take the same energy and turn it to something much more useful and productive. Let’s honor Samuel’s memory by buying his last CD recording from his wife Alla and distributing them in every possible way we can: Judaic stores, gifts for our family or friends, etc. After all, those who will hear this recording will be given more than just a gift. They will receive a blessing- to hear the voice of a GREAT CHAZZAN,
THE ONE AND ONLY- SAMUEL LINKOVSKY.
May his memory be for a blessing.
Cantor Liat Pelman-Forst
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