Graphical version

London Metropolitan Archives

SHABBATON CHOIR


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4765

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: SHABBATON CHOIR

Date(s): 1991-2013

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 1.2 linear metres

Name of creator(s): The Shabbaton Choir

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Shabbaton Choir is a voluntary male-voice choir, drawn from the ranks of several synagogue choirs. It was formed in 1986 under the musical direction of Stephen Glass, and performed for the first time in the Wigmore Hall under its founding name the B'nai Brith Festival Singers.

The choir performs at concerts and synagogue services throughout the UK and undertakes concert tours abroad. It has recorded many times for the BBC and has featured regularly on radio and television broadcasts in the UK and abroad. It has also recorded several albums of its music.

The group's hallmark is its innovative choral arrangements. Its aim is to bring out clearly the mood and meaning of the words, thus making orthodox services more meaningful. Arrangements and new compositions are undertaken the musical director, originally in partnership with Chazan Lionel Rosenfeld.

In 1990 the group was renamed the Shabbaton Choir and Stephen Levey took over as musical director in 1991.

Since 2003 the choir has visited Israel regularly to perform, under the title Solidarity Through Song, where they sing at hospitals and medical centres and to victims of terrorist attacks. The choir has also visited Germany and sung at the sites of concentration camps.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Shabbaton Choir consisting of scrapbooks containing souvenirs of concerts and tours. Files include arrangements, publicity, photographs, messages of thanks and congratulation, concert programmes, orders of service.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in three sections:
LMA/4765/01: 'Official Archive files'
LMA/4765/02: Solidarity Through Song tours to Israel
LMA/4765/03: Tours abroad

Conditions governing access:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright is held by the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: https://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in September 2016.

ALLIED MATERIALS

DESCRIPTION NOTES Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Added November 2018.


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Jewish | Cultural identity
Jews | Religious groups
Religious music | Musical styles
Vocal music | Music | Performing arts

Personal names
Sacks | Jonathan Henry | Baron Sacks | b 1948 | Chief Rabbi

Corporate names
Shabbaton Choir

Places
Germany | Western Europe | Europe
Israel | Middle East