Biography: Cantor Moshe (Murray) Bazian
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| As a child cantor |
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| Cantor Bazian |
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| Cantor Bazian in his later years |
This biography was written by Ben Bazian, Cantor Bazians son, some years ago:
Among the great cantors of our time, Moshe Bazian is highly admired. By means of his numerous personal appearances on radio programs and countless concert tours, his fame has spread throughout the world. Cantor Bazian has thrilled thousands of people wherever he has appeared by bringing the warmth of his vibrant dramatic spinto tenor voice to the peoples’ hearts. Whenever he sings one can definitely feel the true sense and meaning of the sacred prayers without having to read the translation. His deep feeling, clearness of diction, unusual coloratura and heartwarming Yidishe Krechtz has made him known among his colleagues in the cantorial field as Der Zoger; a unique term reserved for only a few of todays great cantors. Moshe Bazian is more than a cantor with an outstanding voice; he is also a gifted composer of Jewish music. One of his most popular compositions Rosh Chodesh Benchen has recently been published by the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America and Canada. All music for his record was either composed or arranged by Cantor Moshe Bazian.
Moshe Bazian was born in Kishinov, Bessarabia to a family prominent in the cantorial field for many generations. At the early age of six, Moshe began his cantorial career in Bender, officiating as star soloist in his late fathers choir of fifty-six singers. Soon he began to manifest such unusual vocal talents that he was invited to appear as a child Wonder Cantor throughout Bessarabia and Roumania. The photo on the left was taken of Cantor Bazian at the age of eight after officiating at a special Chanukah Concert in Galatz, Roumania. During the lengthy concert tours from city to city, the child prodigy received musical training from his father Shmuel, a well known Cantor and Composer (photo appears on right).
In 1949 Cantor Moshe Bazian came to America and accepted a position at Congregation Tifereth Israel in the Bronx. He later officiated at the Linas Hatzedek Synagogue and the Kingsbridge Heights Jewish Center. Moshe Bazian was Cantor at Congregation Shaarei T’filoh in Flushing, one of Americas most beautiful Synagogues. The spiritual leader of the Congregation was the well known scholar, Rabbi Samuel Schafler.
Cantor Bazian has devoted many years of study to the cantorial arts. He attended the New York College of Music and has studied with many professors of world renown, such as Professor Pasquali Resigno, Dr. Charles Gay and with Mario Laurenti. Moshe Bazian was a member and past president of the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America & Canada and served on their Board of Directors. In 1960, he was chosen as a soloist from among 250 cantors to appear at the special 6oth Anniversary Jewish Ministers Cantors Association Concert in Madison Square Garden. After appearing at the Hunter College Concert in 1962, he was hailed as a master of the Cantorial Art. He also sang at the Philadelphia Town Hall Concert and was one of the performers at the Chazonim Farband Concert held at the Young Israel of the West Side, where he was enthusiastically received.
Chazzan Moshe Bazian was last Chazzan at Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY.
He passed away in 2010.
Among the great cantors of our time, Moshe Bazian is highly admired. By means of his numerous personal appearances on radio programs and countless concert tours, his fame has spread throughout the world. Cantor Bazian has thrilled thousands of people wherever he has appeared by bringing the warmth of his vibrant dramatic spinto tenor voice to the peoples’ hearts. Whenever he sings one can definitely feel the true sense and meaning of the sacred prayers without having to read the translation. His deep feeling, clearness of diction, unusual coloratura and heartwarming Yidishe Krechtz has made him known among his colleagues in the cantorial field as Der Zoger; a unique term reserved for only a few of todays great cantors. Moshe Bazian is more than a cantor with an outstanding voice; he is also a gifted composer of Jewish music. One of his most popular compositions Rosh Chodesh Benchen has recently been published by the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America and Canada. All music for his record was either composed or arranged by Cantor Moshe Bazian.
Moshe Bazian was born in Kishinov, Bessarabia to a family prominent in the cantorial field for many generations. At the early age of six, Moshe began his cantorial career in Bender, officiating as star soloist in his late fathers choir of fifty-six singers. Soon he began to manifest such unusual vocal talents that he was invited to appear as a child Wonder Cantor throughout Bessarabia and Roumania. The photo on the left was taken of Cantor Bazian at the age of eight after officiating at a special Chanukah Concert in Galatz, Roumania. During the lengthy concert tours from city to city, the child prodigy received musical training from his father Shmuel, a well known Cantor and Composer (photo appears on right).
In 1949 Cantor Moshe Bazian came to America and accepted a position at Congregation Tifereth Israel in the Bronx. He later officiated at the Linas Hatzedek Synagogue and the Kingsbridge Heights Jewish Center. Moshe Bazian was Cantor at Congregation Shaarei T’filoh in Flushing, one of Americas most beautiful Synagogues. The spiritual leader of the Congregation was the well known scholar, Rabbi Samuel Schafler.
Cantor Bazian has devoted many years of study to the cantorial arts. He attended the New York College of Music and has studied with many professors of world renown, such as Professor Pasquali Resigno, Dr. Charles Gay and with Mario Laurenti. Moshe Bazian was a member and past president of the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America & Canada and served on their Board of Directors. In 1960, he was chosen as a soloist from among 250 cantors to appear at the special 6oth Anniversary Jewish Ministers Cantors Association Concert in Madison Square Garden. After appearing at the Hunter College Concert in 1962, he was hailed as a master of the Cantorial Art. He also sang at the Philadelphia Town Hall Concert and was one of the performers at the Chazonim Farband Concert held at the Young Israel of the West Side, where he was enthusiastically received.
Chazzan Moshe Bazian was last Chazzan at Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY.
He passed away in 2010.
