Louis Lewandowski

His most famous works were composed during his tenure as musical director at the Neue Synagoge in Berlin and his melodies form a substantial part of synagogue services around the world today.

Shortly afterward, he was appointed choirmaster in the Neue Synagoge, Berlin, for which he composed the entire musical service.

His arrangements of ancient Hebrew melodies for choir, cantor, and organ are considered masterly productions, characterized by great simplicity and a profound religious sentiment.

Lewandowski's writing is notable for incorporating the strict four-part harmony of church music with ancient cantorial modal melodies.

[4][5] Today Lewandowski's music forms a central part of the synagogue service in Reform, Liberal, Conservative and Orthodox communities.

Several of his compositions were added to Samuel Alman's supplement when he edited The Voice Of Prayer And Praise in 1933 introducing Lewandowski's music to the UK.

In addition to the production of CD recordings of this music, the Society has supported the renewed use of the Lewandowski tradition at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and at its campus synagogues in Cincinnati, Los Angeles and particularly in Jerusalem, where a Classical Reform worship service and concert have become an annual event.

The Society also supports the use of these compositions, with instrumental and choral accompaniment, at congregations throughout the United States, as well as in Jerusalem and Warsaw.