When I was a student of the late Rev Leo Bryll, in the Chazanut Class at Jews' College at the end of the '60's, a very young man of about 17 came to join the class.

I can remember, as if it was yesterday, that on the first day that he came, he sang Sheyibaneh Bet Hamikdash for the class ( there were about 12 of us in those days - all full-time students)  and we were absolutely bowled over by the maturity of his voice and the professionalism of his presentation.

This young man was Johnny Gluck.

Johnny was born in Hungary and whilst still a child, his family went to Dublin where his father, Israel, had been appointed Chazan.  In Dublin Johnny sang in his father's choir, as he continued to do when the family moved to Sydney, Australia, where Israel had been appointed Chazan at the Great Synagogue.

Since it was quite obvious what he was going to do for a career, Johnny was sent to London to study with Rev Leo Bryll, and it wasn't long before he was appointed Chazan at the Western Synagogue.  He was only 17.

The combination of Leo Bryll, as his formal teacher, and Emmanuel Fisher, the celebrated leader of the London Jewish Male Voice Choir, as his choirmaster at the Western, ensured that Johnny had the finest tuition that it could have been possible to obtain.

At the age of 20 he went for a short while to the Great and New Synagogue in Manchester and, while he was there, he was invited to be one of the guest artistes at the annual Radcliffe Arts Festival, the first Chazan ever to participate in this event.

From 1970 - 1975, whilst he pursued his musical education at the Royal College of Music, he returned to London to become Chazan at the Marble Arch congregation.

In 1975, Johnny moved to Israel and was Chazan at the Great Synagogue in Raanana and, during his years in Israel he gave many concerts and appeared many times on Television and Radio.

In 1979 he was appointed Chazan at the prestigious Great Synagogue in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Chazan Gluck visited London recently on the occasion of a family Bar-Mitzva. A party was given in his honour by Chazan Moshe Dubiner. Rev. Gluck, who is well known to many of us, sang a couple of compositions which surprised his listeners and gave them the feeling that Chazanuth as an art is still very much alive.

Among the poeple present were some musicians, colleagues, and also his tutor from the Jews' College the Rev. Bryll. They all remembered Johnny Gluck when he was serving at the Marble Arch Synagogue, but it was not the same Chazan. Listening to him on that occasion, I have found in him a classical example, how a chazan can develop his talent and the singing ability, given the right chance to work for it, and serving in a Congregation who are interested in good Choral services.


Chazan Gluck has been for more than three years in South Africa serving in the Walmarans Street Synagogue. His voice has matured, his range has widened, his technique has improved, and above all he gives reign to the expression of his feelings into the singing. It was a real pleasure to listen to him, and to notice the great change for the better. Here is an example of a young chazan who had the opportunity to work hard, and attained acclaim in South Africa where the Jewish people still love to listen to good Chazanuth.

Q. What can you tell me about the Synagogue?

A. The Walmarans Street Synagogue is the so called Great Synagogue of Johannesburg. The Congregation numbers about twelve hundred members, who unfortunately live away from the Shool, because it is situated near the centre of the city, and rather far from the Jewish quarter. The main service, as is traditional in SA. is on Friday night, with an attendance of about three hundred worshippers. I have a large choir of about 12 men all paid singers, they sing on Friday night as well as on Shabbat morning.


Q. What compositions are you singing during the Friday night services?

A. The Friday night service lasts about an hour, including the Rabbi's sermon therefore we usually sing two or three compositions, e.g. Hashkiveinu, Veshamru, Magen Avoth, or Retzei Vimnuchateinu. The choir master is Dr. David Cohen, a fine musician.


Q. Other than yourself, who are the notable chazanim today in S.A.?

A. The Chazanim of renown in South Africa are Phillip Badash and his brother Max Badash who officiates only on High Festivals. Their father was a distinguished chazan in Johannesburgh. The Chazan with a great reputation, who made a big impact on his Community is An Klein, who serves at the 'Sydenham Highlands North' Synagogue. He was born in Hungary, served previously in New York and Canada. He is in his early thirties and very popular among his congregants, mainly because of his style, which I would describe as a Chassidic-Pop style. Although he is a good chazan and has a considerable talent in traditional chazanuth, it is the chassidic which has endeared him to his congregation. Chazan Simcha Kussovitzky is of course retired, he is approaching eighty, and lives quietly in Capetown.


Q. How is life today in South Africa from the Jewish point of view.

A. In S.A. there are today about 120 thousand Jews, there are still flourishing Communities with Jewish Primary and High Schools. Having the traditions of their fathers who came from East Europe, they have also inherited the love for chazanuth, and they appreciate good singing of Chazan and Choir. It is therefore true to say, that because of this attitude, many Congregations encourage their Chazanim to develop a nice musical service, with large choirs throughout the year even for the high cost, in order to enhance the Synagogue services.


Chazan Gluck said: "I would like to make special mention about Mr. Lior Himmeistein, who is choir Master at the Greenside Synagogue in Johannesburg. Although music is not the main source of his livelehood, he has devoted himself to the task of rearranging many of the great liturgical compositions, especially of the great Master Composers, which has calminated in the magnificent arrangement for male choir of the 'Emeth Ve'emuna' by Zeidel Rovner'.

Chazan Gluck has produced a T.V. programme in which he sings various liturgical compositions with the Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir, he also intends to publish a record in the near future.

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Right up to the very end of his life, Johnny Gluck was still making recordings.  The last one that was issued by his wife Judy, after his death, is devoted to the compositions of Leibush Miller.

If it was possible that anybody ever doubted Johnny's ability as a Chazan, I believe that this cassette demonstrates only too clearly, what a phenomenal talent he had.

Johnny Gluck was quite simply, a natural Chazan.  He had an intuitive feel for the interpretation of a piece and a most beautiful voice.

Had Johnny Gluck been alive today, he was only 36 when he died, he would have unquestionably been one of the most celebrated Chazanim of the modern age.

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