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Samuel Alman

Born in Sobolevka, Ukrain, he studied music in Odessa and Kishinev between 1895-1903. After the Kishinev pogrom (1903) he went to London and attended the Royal College of Music. There he wrote "King Ahaz", a biblical opera (performed in 1912).
He was choirmaster of various London synagogues, including Hampstead Synagogue and Jewish choral groups.

His style was deeply rooted in the Eastern European Chazzanut tradition, and he managed to preserve the melodic features of this tradition despite his modern harmonization techniques.

Among his works are Shirei Beit ha-Knesset for Chazzan and choir (1925; 1938); Psalm 15 for choir and organ (1915); Psalm 133 for choir and piano (1934); Mi Adir and Sheva Berachot for Chazzan and organ (1930); Ebraica suite for string quartet (1932); and arrangements of Yiddish songs. In addition he edited Shirei Rozummy (1930).
Samuel Alman died in London in 1947.