Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Roslyn Jhunever Barak Roslyn Jhunever Barak: Song and Spirit: A Cantor’s Life Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, 1987-2015 Interviews conducted by Basya Petnick 2014-2015 Copyright © 2017 by the Regents of the University of California Since 1954 the Oral History Center of the Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by legal agreements between The Regents of the University of California and Roslyn Barak and between the Regents and Basya Petnick, dated April 17, 2017 and April 19, 2017, respectively. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Please note that this transcript is governed by a special agreement that limits the use of the material for deritative works; for such uses, please contact The Bancroft Library as directed below. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/oral-history-center/rights It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Roslyn Jhunever Barak. Roslyn Jhunever Barak: Song and Spirit: A Cantor’s Life Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, 1987-2015 conducted by Basya Petnick, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2017. Roslyn Jhunever Barak Roslyn Jhunever Barak served Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, California in the position of senior cantor from 1987 to 2015. She earned a BA in music (vocal performance) from the Manhattan School of Music. As an opera singer, she appeared with the Santa Fe Opera, as well as other companies, and was the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors. From 1974 to 1977, Barak lived in Israel, where she married and had a son. During those years, she performed with the Israel National Opera, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony, as well as performing regularly in solo recitals and with other orchestras throughout the country. After returning to New York, she made the decision to pursue a career in the Reform Jewish cantorate. She earned an MSM (master of sacred music) at Hebrew Union College in New York and was ordained as cantor upon her graduation in 1986. She has toured Germany multiple times in conjunction with the release of her CD, The Jewish Soul. Cantor Barak has served on the faculty of the Academy of Jewish Religion in Los Angeles, on the boards of the American Conference of Cantors and the Cantors Assembly, and on the editorial committee for Mishkan Tefillah, the current Reform prayerbook. Her recording of Samuel Adler’s liturgical music is part of the Milken Archive of Jewish music. Her other recordings include Libi B’Ma’arav, A Sho’o in Gan Eden, and Hallel v’Zimrah. She received a master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1996, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College in 2011. She teaches and coaches cantorial students in the United States, Israel, and Germany. In Spring 2017 her new recording, My Spirit Sings, was released. To my mother, Anne, who gave me the music, and to my father, Harry, who gave me the voice. To Music You dear, sweet Art, in many dismal hours Where I’ve been bound by life’s unruly course Then in my heart, a warmer love you have ignited. You’ve carried me to a better, better world, Yes, to a better, better world! Oft comes a sigh, a holy chord from your harp strings That sparks in me a vision, one I clearly see, A glimpse of heaven, and the sight of better times before me. I thank you for these things, you dear sweet Art, For these things, my thanks to you. By Franz von Schober Tom Potter, translator The oral history of Cantor Roslyn Barak was made possible by a seed gift from The Denebeim Family and sustained with the generous support of Tricia Hellman Gibbs Barbara J. Rolph Sarlo Foundation John and Jane Siegel Grateful appreciation is extended to the many people who helped with the research and production of Cantor Roslyn Barak’s oral history: Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce; Rabbi Jonathan Slater; Robert L. Denebeim; Marilyn Mercur; Eva C. Refell; Genine Lentine; Claudette Allison; Judi Leff, Congregation Emanu-El Library and Archive; Howard Freedman and staff of the Jewish Community Library; San Francisco Public Library (Main); Mechanics’ Institute Library; and Robert Goldfarb and the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity. x Table of Contents—Roslyn Jhunever Barak Introduction by Stephen S. Pearce xiii Introduction by Marc Kligman xvi Introduction by Robert L. Denebeim xix Interview History by Basya Petnick xx Interview 1: November 3, 2014 1 Family and early life; mother, father, and grandparents—Always musical; mother’s music collection—Brooklyn; early school years—Family values—Eric Jacobs—High School of Music and Art; the audition; the schlep; semi-annuals; a complete dream; positive focus—Scholarship to Manhattan School of Music Interview 2: December 15, 2014 18 Perception; intuition—Mistrust resisted—IQ testing—High School of Music and Art— Early religious experiences; davenning; Hebrew school; sitting in the balcony, salutatorian; no feeling of community—The cantor; authentic Jewish prayer experience; relationship with God—Sephardic superstitions and psychics; Mrs. Farqi—My life was saved—Music affects me physically; harmony, always harmony—Yiddish art song— Orthodox; rabbi-cantor interplay—Cantor’s role: sh’liach tzibur; flow; cantor’s and congregation’s roles; order of prayers—Ladino Interview 3: February 13, 2015 35 Manhattan School of Music; location; training—Working with Daniel Ferro; vocal abilities—Competitions and chamber music—Art song; recordings—Voice and singing—Divas; it’s about the music—Roles and performances—Friends in the music world—An important relationship—Senior recital—Voice—Voice, content, emotion, and meaning; Barbara Ostfeld—Unusual Experiences—Influences—Intimations of Israel— Carnegie Hall—Israel; Israel Opera—Manhattan School of Music—Support for High School of Music and Art—Juilliard and other schools Interview 4: March 9, 2015 52 Application for Israel National Opera; the Jewish Agency—A Breakup—Sante Fe Opera; memorable audition; other apprentices and singers; understudy for Frederica von Stade— Meeting friends and family; Jacob Barak; Hebrew language—Life in Israel—Difficulties with Israel National Opera; Radio Kol-Yisrael—Marriage to Jacob; Danny—Luciano Berio and Zubin Mehta—Jerusalem Symphony—Traditional Jewish wedding; other rituals—Doing good; the Danish example—Religious Practices—Personal and professional needs—Here to serve—Rabbi Asher’s funeral music—Performing for Leonard Bernstein xi Interview 5: May 13, 2015 70 More on Israel Opera and other work opportunities—Return to New York; Shaarey Tifila—Orthodox prayers; service is basic frame of reference—Reform Judaism and its music—“Go! Be a cantor”—Hebrew Union College; the famous interview; the famous catalogue; this is serious; Barbara Ostfeld; Much to learn—Nusach; improvising within a system; Rip van Winklestein—Chazzanim of the past; Golden Age of Cantors—Power of voice; prayers of the old cantors—School of Sacred Music; cantors, repertoire, and classes—Reflections on Midrash and Hebrew grammar—Impact of sacred music; higher purpose—Organ—16 ways to chant the Chatzi Kaddish—Master’s degree Interview 6: May 29, 2015 87 Backtrack; living in New Your before cantorial school—Danny, child actor; competitive stage mom; Danny’s role in Nine; parental role and responsibilities; mother and son similarities—Jacob Barak; safety of extended family—Singing competitions drying up— Career preferences; not a Broadway type—New York friends and family—Jewish observances Interview 7: June 24, 2015 98 Studying for the cantorate; further reflections; commitment—Feeling out of place— Religious vis-à-vis secular music—Sh’liach tzibur—Prayer not easy—Services— Responsibility—A gift, a privilege—Vocal performance—Classical training; influences—Organ to guitar—Nusach further defined—Cantillation