Singing Cantors’ Praises

I read with incredulity your story on the demise of the art of cantorial improvisation (“A Glorious but Endangered Tradition,” by Daniel Feingold, Jan. 9).

Having served as a cantor for 72 years (I was called to the cantorate at the tender age of 9), I am dismayed that there is a feeling among my most esteemed colleagues that improvisation is a dying art. I beg to disagree. As long as there are cantors who pour their minds, their souls, their voices into the prayers, touching people with the beauty of the music and the meaning of the verse, the art of improvisation will endure. Those so moved by the meaning and the melody will burst forth in deeply personal song to extol the greatness of God.

Call it technique, call it a God-given talent--no matter. As long as it touches people in their deepest souls and opens their hearts to the Almighty word, bringing them comfort, hope and solace in an uncertain world, there will be a natural expression of improvisation.

CANTOR SAMUEL KELEMER, emeritus

Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles