Froim Spektor, V’shomru (The Children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath)
Froim Spektor (1888–1948) was appointed ‘Oberkantor’ of the grand Choral Synagogue in Rostov-on Don, Southern Russia, in 1915. In 1928, he travelled to South Africa to take up the post of Cantor at the New Hebrew Congregation in Roeland Street, Cape Town, a post he held until 1934. Now in the possession of his granddaughter in Cape Town, Spektor’s red manuscript folder contains a treasure trove of his own compositions and previously unknown works (or works considered lost) by other significant Jewish composers.
V’shomru is scored for SATB choir with organ accompaniment. Unusually for Spektor, there is no part for Cantor; the choir begins in unison after a short organ introduction, indicating the importance of the accompaniment. Like other compositions by Spektor from his Rostov-on-Don years, this is suggestive of a liberal approach to Judaism in Rostov-on-Don, especially since the piece is always sung on Shabat, during which instruments are normally forbidden in Orthodox synagogues.
Spektor, V'shomru (SATB)