Velvel Pasternak is a musicologist, conductor, arranger, producer, and publisher specializing in Jewish music. In 1981 he was described as “an expert on the music of the Hasidic sect and probably the largest publisher of Jewish music anywhere, although he is quick to note that publishing Jewish music is a business that attracts few rivals.” He is a graduate of Yeshiva University High School for Boys (Class of 1951).
The founder of Tara Publications, he has been responsible for the publication of 26 recordings and over 150 books of Jewish music since 1971, spanning the gamut of Israeli, Yiddish, Judeo-Spanish, cantorial, Hasidic and Holocaust music. He is a regular lecturer on the music of the Hassidim.
1 thought on “The Velvel Pasternak”
HIS WORK WAS IMPORTANT IN DISCOVERING, RETAINING AND SPREADING THE DIVERSITY OF THE VAST JEWISH MUSICAL HERITAGE.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN ASHKENAZI AND CHASSIDIC MUSIC HE ALSO INCLUDED SOME
SEPHARDIC MUSIC IN HIS COLLECTIONS. HIS COLLECTIONS OF ISRAELI SONGS ARE IMPECCABLE FOR DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY.
WHAT KNOWLEDGE OF SONGS IN YIDDISH, LADINO, AND HEBREW! AS A MUSICOLOGIST HE’D HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH VERSION,
MELODY, KEY AND TEMPO SEEMED MOST SUITABLE. HE’D ALSO WOULD IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF THE LITURGICAL LYRICS; BIBLICAL ,
TALMUDIC OR BIOGRAPHICAL. THIS TYPE OF WORK HAS ENDLESS CHALLENGES, REQUIRES RARE DEDICATION, AND HAPPENS
TO BE INCREDIBLY SATISFYING.
ALTHOUGH HE WILL BE MISSED, HIS INFLUENCE WILL CONTINUE ONWARDS FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.