Chazzanut

Chazzanut, also known as hazanut, is the art and tradition of cantorial singing in Jewish liturgical music. The term derives from the Hebrew hazan (cantor) and denotes both the office of the hazzan and the stylized musical practice used to lead prayer services.

Across Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi communities, chazzanut encompasses a repertoire of liturgical melodies known as nusach, trope, and piyutim. Cantors may chant prayers, chant scripture, and perform cantorial improvisations with virtuosic melismas, often in dialogue with a choir or congregation. In Orthodox contexts instrumental accompaniment is often avoided, while many synagogues in other communities use organ or piano.

Historically the tradition emerged in medieval and early modern Jewish communities; it flourished in Eastern Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and then spread to the Americas with large immigrant communities. The cantorial style evolved under influences from opera and classical singing, giving rise to dramatic, highly trained vocal performances alongside more intimate liturgical readings.

Prominent cantors helped shape chazzanut's development: Yossele Rosenblatt, Moishe Oysher, Zavel Kwartin, and Gershon Sirota are often cited as influential figures of the cantorial tradition in the 20th century; their recordings and performances connected many communities with cantorial styles.

Today chazzanut remains a living tradition in many synagogues and in concert settings, reflecting a diversity of nusach and performance approaches—from highly structured liturgical renditions to more contemporary, theatrical presentations.