Heymann, Isaac H.

Dutch cantor and composer; born about 1834; son of Phinchas Heymann. After having made several tours through Hungary, Heymann was cantor successively at Filehne, Graudenz, and Gnesen. In 1856 he went to Amsterdam as chief cantor, which position he still (1903) occupies. Heymann is generally called the "Gnesener ḥazzan."

Of his many compositions he has published (1898) "Shire Todah la-El," a collection which he dedicated to Queen Wilhelmina on the day of her coronation. Most of the melodies now sung by the congregation and by the synagogal choruses which he has organized have been composed by him.

Heymann has a son, Karl Heymann, a pianist and composer; and three daughters, Louise, Sophia, and Johanne, of whom the first two are singers and the last is a pianist.

Bibliography:

  * Frank, Kleines Tonkünstlerlexicon;
  * M. Herzveld, Isaac Heymann, Vienna, 1881;
  * Allg. Zeit. des Jud. May 26, 1863;
  * Oesterr.-Ung. Cantoren Zeitung, July 1, 1899;
  * Der Israelit, Aug. 14, 1901 (with portrait);
  * Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, Oct. 2, 1901;
  * Joodsche Courant, May 29, 1903 (with portrait).



S. E. Sl.