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Welcome to my auctions of great records

This is my FIRST WEEK of 2 weeks of great auctions – I WILL PACK AND BILL YOUR RECORDS after the close on March 4.

PLEASE DO NOT PAY before I send you an invoice. It will take me up to 48 hours to pack your records, but this is the ONLY WAY to get you the LOWEST POSTAGE. If you pay before I sent you an invoice, the EBAY system will charge you a HIGHER POSTAGE for shipping.

Famous OBERKANTOR Sawel Kwartin of the Vienna Synagoge Neudeggergasse (Vereinssynagoge des Tempelverein Josefstadt) in the  8. Vienna District Josefstadt

Rare approx 1904  European ZONOPHONE recording

Sawel Kwartin

The great Zavel Kwartin was the most high paid cantor of his time with a glorious high baritone voice.

He had an unusual warm and expressive voice and the majesty with which he conducted the services and his fidelity to the Nussach (the traditional mood of the prayers) were reknown the world over.

Kwartin was also a great composer albeit in a different manner than Josseleh Rosenblatt

Kwartin’s compositions where much nearer to the traditional mood of the prayers and his capacity to bring forth the essence of the prayers wrapped in melodious phrases where moving to tears all his listeners

Born on 25th March 1874 in Chonorod, Elisabetgrad, Russia, he ascended to cantorship of the Vienna VIII District temple in 1903, until he finally went to the USA in 1920 for the Temple Emanuel where his salary was $12,000.

Known from many US Brunswick and Victor recordings, this is a rare, pre-WWI recording of his Vienna days.

This imported recording may be pressed from the 1909 Vienna Zonophone record of the same titles

Oberkantor of the Temple of VIII. District Vienna.

 on ZONOPHONE VIENNA: W Kach Ohje Omer/Uwjom Symchuseinu

10" 78 rpm record

Zevulun (Zavel) Kwartin

1874 - 1952

By Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler

Most famous Chazanim have tenor voices. One who was endowed with a glorious high baritone, was the great Zavel 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.

More Great Records on sale right now:

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A Quick NOTE ON GRADING AND SHIPPING:

As you can see from my feedback, I try hard to earn your POSITIVE FEEDBACK and FIVE STAR RATINGS.

If for any reason your transaction was NOT SATISFACTORY, pls contact me and I will work something out with you. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A REASON TO GIVE ME A NEGATIVE RATING or a LOW STAR RATING.

Quick note on grading:

The Grade (Excellent to Fair, I don't give Mint) refers to the WEAR of the record. Any other defects are stated separately

When I listen to a record, I may also give it an aural grade (again E to F), and make a SUBJECTIVE judgment of the pressing quality for hiss and surface noise.
"SUPERQUIET" is basically noiseless, like a vinyl pressing.
"VERY QUIET" is an quiet record for a given pressing.
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Prices below are for regular 78 rpm records. Up to about 5 records, I will ship Edison Discs for the same rates. Albums from Album Sets count as 1 record. Above that and for international shipments, it will be actual weight plus a small packing charge (1-3$ depending on size of shipment)

1 record: 4.50 – 5.00$

2 records: 5.75$

5 records: 7.50$

10 records: 9.50$

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Please use the EBAY shipping cost only as a guideline. My actual charges are usually lower

International shipping: approx postage 1x10"=$25: 1x12"=$35: 10"Album 4 Rec=50$: 12" Album 2 Rec=50$
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