SEPHARDIC MUSIC:
A CENTURY OF RECORDINGS

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Isaac Algazi

Discography

Biography

Born April 24, 1889 in Izmir, Isaac Algazi was the son of Salomon Algazi, himself a notable cantor. He was educated in the Alliance Israélite Universelle school system, and at a local Talmud Torah. Algazi learned repertory and technique from his father, as well as the renowned Jewish Turkish art music composers Shem Tov Chikiar and Hayyim Alazraki. He became the Cantor at the Beit Israel central synagogue in 1908 and married his wife Reina ten years later. He joined the choir of the Portugal synagogue, performing the Maftirim repertory. He relocated to Istanbul in 1923 and grew to prominence in the next decade. In 1929 he was appointed the Cantor and music instructor at the at the Sephardic "Italian" synagogue at Galata, Istanbul.

Allied with the goals of Atatürk and the new Republic, he was among a cohort of young Turkish intellectuals who conferred with Atatürk at length. Admired by Atatürk for his artistry and his intellect (Feldman), he was summoned to the Dolma bahçe in 1932 and asked for a review of Turkish music. Algazi spoke on the history of Turkish music and sang several songs from different eras. Well pleased, Atatürk gave him a signed copy of the Quran. (Galante)

Algazi left Turkey in 1933, never to return. He spent two years in Paris, from 1933 to 1935, serving at the Grande Synagogue de Paris, Communauté de la Victoire. (Léon Algazi , no relation, served as musical director at this synagogue shortly afterwards.)

Along with many other immigrants from Izmir, Algazi made his way to Montevideo, Uruguay. He lived there from 1935-1950.

Algazi recorded for more labels than any other Sephardic artist: Columbia, Favorite, Gramophone, Odeon and Pathé. His recording career extended from 1909 to 1929. He also made a small number of non-commercial studio recordings at the Musée de la Parole, Paris, in 1934.

Sources:

Encyclopedia Judaica.

Feldman, 1990.

Galante, 1985.

Seroussi, 1989.

Photos

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