Sawel Kwartin

Kwartin was born on 25th March 1874 in Chonorod, Elisabetgrad, Russia, to a wealthy Chassidic textile merchant. From a very early age he exhibited a beautiful voice and his father took him to the famous Chazan, Yerucham Hakatan (also known as Yerucham Blindman), to hear his son sing and get a professional opinion of his abilities.

According to Zavel's own account, the ageing Chazan was deeply impressed by him and wanted to take the boy as his pupil. His father however was not too keen on the idea though, believing that a career in textiles might be rather more secure than one in Chazanut.

On his marriage he went to Shul with his in-laws in Yelisvatgrad and was invited to say the Haftara. The congregation was very impressed with his rendering of the Berachot and he was prevailed upon to conduct Musaf. It was on this occasion that the seeds of his golden career were sown.

Kwartin took music and singing lessons with the finest teachers of his time and on June 1st 1896 he gave his first public concert. He states that he was a great success. The following year he gave a concert in Lodz for which he was paid more than 400 roubles and he continued to travel in Europe, concertise and conduct services to great acclaim.

In 1903 he was appointed Obercantor of the Queen Elizabet Temple of Vienna where his salary was 2,500 krone per annum, an extraordinary salary by any standards.

In 1914 Kwatrin was invited to come to America for a fee of $30,000 for a series of 30 concerts. Because of the war this was postponed and it wasn't until April 1920 that he eventually got there.

His first concert, which was not a success, was at the Metropolitan Opera House. Fortunately though he redeemed himself at the 'Hippodrome' and went on from there to tour America, with great success.

He decided to remain in the States and was appointed Chazan at the Temple Emanuel where his salary was $12,000. He also continued to give concerts and was possibly the highest-paid Chazan of all time.

Kwartin published two volumes of his three-volume work, 'Z'mirot Zevulon' in 1928, (the third was published in 1937). They contain the music to most of his famous pieces, 'Tiheir Rabbi Yishmoel, Ve'al Yedei Avodecho, etc', and is still widely used.

Zavel was deeply moved by his first visit to the Holy Land and eventually built a home for himself on Mount Carmel. The last fifteen years of his life were spent in the USA, and when he died on 3rd October 1952, he was brought to Israel for burial.

Zavel Kwartin made numerous recordings, many of which have been electronically enhanced and re-released. Through them, his phenomenal voice still lives on.

These recordings were produced prior to 1923 and are in the public domain.


Total: 170

18 Chai-Life Gala Concert
A Bis'l Taam (A Little Flavor)
Adonoj Adonoj (sic) [Adonai, Adonai]; Al ken N'kaw...
Ahawass olom; Ma toiwu (Ma Tovu)
Ahawu rabu ahawtuni! (sic) [Ahava Rabbah Ahavtanny...
Al Chet; Geschem
Al chet; L'chu N'rannenu
Al Ken N'Kave; Al Taschlicheinu
Al taschlicheinu! (sic) [Al Tashlicheynu]; Chamoil...
Al Taschlicheinu; Yom Kippur Katan
American Conference of Cantors
Aschrei jodé sruo (sic) [Ashrei yodey Sruo]; Kerk...
At Prayer in the Synagogue - Volume 3
At Prayer in the Synagogue - Volumes 3, 4 & 5
Ato Niglesu (sic) [Attah Nigleytah]
Ato Niglesu (sic) [Attah Nigleytah]
Brach Dodi
Brochos; A Ingele (A Yingele)
Cantica Hebraica - 1975-1976
Cantica Hebraica - December 1973
Cantica Hebraica - November 1974
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1907) Vol. 1
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1908) Vol. 2
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1909) Vol. 3
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1909) Vol. 4
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1910-11) Vol. 5
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1912) Vol. 6
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1912-13) Vol. 7
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1921) Vol. 8
Cantor Sawel Kwartin (1921-22) Vol. 9
Cantor Zavel Kwartin
Cantor Zawel Kwartin Sings his Best Cantorial Work...
Cantorial
Cantorial Gems
Cantorial Gems - Volume 2
Cantorial Gems - Volume 2
Cantorial Gems - Volume 3
Cantorial Rarities
Chazanim and Chazanut - Cantors and Cantorials
En Kumoche (sic) [Eyn Kamochah]
Festival Prayers, Volume 1
Geschem (S'chor hanolod)
Glory of the Sabbath - Rozo D'Shabbos - Volume 2
Golden Voices of Israel
Golden Voices of Israel
Golden Voices of Israel
Golden Voices of Israel
Golden Voices of Israel - Volume 3
Golden Voices of Israel The High Holidays
Great Cantors of the Past - Volume 1
Great Voices of the Synagogue
Halbein Chatuenu (Jom Kippur)
Haschiwenu
Haschiwenu (sic) [Hashkiveinu]
Haschiwenu! (sic) [Hashiveynu!]
Haschkiwenu
Hashkivenu
Hazur tumim um puuloi
Heneni Heoni
Hineni Heni Mimas
Hineni Henuni Mimaas (sic) [Heenenny Heony Mima-as...
Hineni Heoni
Hineni Heoni (Part 1)
Hineni heoni (sic) [Heenenny Heony]
Hojschanu (sic) [Hoshannah]
I'kum Purkon (sic) [Yekum Purkon]
Ismach Moshe
Israel's 25th Anniversary in concert
Jehi Rozon
Jehi Ruzon (sic) [Yehee Ratzone]
Jehi Ruzon (sic) [Yehi Ratzon]
Joschew Beseiser (sic) [Yoshev B'Seyter]
Joschew Besiser
K'duscho (Echod Hu Eloheinu)
K'duscho (Echod Hu Eloheinu)
Kadisch bei Nile! (sic) [Kadish from Neilah!]
Kadisch l'nilo
Kaperchataenu (sic) [Kapeir Chatoeinu]
Kewakuras (sic) [KeVakoras]
Kidusch I'scholosch R'golem
Kidush L'scholosch R'golim (sic) [Kiddush L'shalos...
Kodosch Ato
Kodosch Ato (sic) [Kadosh Attah]
Kol Adoshem Yecholel Ayoles
Kol Nidre
Kol Nidrei
L'cho Neranenu (sic) [L'chu Nerranennah]
L'chu N'ranenah
L'chu N'ranneno
L'el Orech din
L'el Orech din
Layla Shomrim
Leduvid Mizmor
Ma-towu
Ma-Towu
Mehero (sic) [Meheirah]
Mi scheberach (sic) [Mi Shebeirach]
Mogen Owos (sic) [Magein Avote]
Mysteries of the Sabbath - Classic Cantorial Recor...
Nekadesh
Original Kwartin Compositions
Ov Horachamim
Ovinu Malkeinu
Ovinu Malkeinu (sic) [Aveenu Malkeynu]
Owinu Malkenu Schor Rachmecho (sic) [Aveenu Malkey...
Peer V'chovod
R'eh W'onjenu
Rare Cantorial Gems
Rare Cantorial Music
Rare Cantorial Treasures
Refoenu (sic) [Reffa-eynu]
Rehenu Beonjenu
Rehenu Beonjenu (sic) [Re'e Na V'Oneynu]; Kol Adon...
Renew our days
Ribono Shel Olam
Ribono Shel Olom
Roso Deshabos
Sch'ma Koleinu
Schefa von Igdal (sic) Sheffah from Yigdal
Shema Kolenu
T'ka B'shofar
T'ka B'shofar
T'ka B'shofar
T'ka B'shofar
Tal
Tefilo Zacho
Ten Great Cantors
The Art of Cantor Sawel Kwartin
The Days of Awe
The Great Cantors
Tzur Yisro-eyl
Umipne Chatoenu
Umipne chatoenu
Umipnei Chataweinu
Umipnei Chatoenu
Umipnei Chatoenu
Umipnei Chatteinu
Umipnei Chatuenu (sic) [Umipney Chatoeynu]
Unsane tokef (sic) [Unetta-neh Tokef]
Uwinu Malkeinu
Uwinu Malkeinu
Uwinu Malkeinu
Uwinu Malkeinu
Ve-khol m'aminim
W'al jde awodecho (sic) [V'al Yeddey Avodecha]
W'al Jede (Malchios) (sic) [V'al Yeddey (Malchuyot...
W'chol maaminim schehu (sic) [V'chol Ma-aminim She...
W'hakohanim
W'hakohanim
W'hakohanim
W'hakohanim (sic) [V'hakohanim]
W'kach Ohj Omer (sic) [V'kach Hayah Omeyr]
W'kach Ohje Omer
W'schomru (sic) [V'shomru]
W'sseorew
W'sseorew (sic) [V'te-erav]
Weal Jedei (Rosh Hashono)
Weal Yedei
Weal Yedei
Weal Yedei
Weal Yedei
Wechulon Mekablim
Yaale Tachnunanu (sic) [Ya-aley Tachnuneynu]
Yehi Rotzon
Yismechu B'malchuscho (sic) [Yismechu B'malchootch...
Yom Kippur Chants, Volume 3
Zadik Katomor (sic) [Tzadik Katomar]
Zmiros
Zur Jisroel (sic) [Tzur Yisrael]
Zur Jisroel (sic) [Tzur Yisrael]