Henle, Moritz
HENLE, MORITZ
HENLE, MORITZ (1850–1925), cantor and composer. Born in Laupheim (Wuerttemburg), Germany, Henle became cantor and choral conductor and worked in various cities. In 1879, he was appointed chief cantor in the reformed Israelitischer Tempelverband of Hamburg, where he reintroduced biblical cantillation and Ashkenazi pronunciation. In 1905 he was among the founders of the Standesverein der juedischen Kantoren in Deutschland, which later became the Allgemeiner Deutscher Kantorenverband. His works include Liturgische Synagogen-Gesaenge (1900), for solo, mixed choir, and organ; a revised edition of the Gesangbuch of the Hamburg Synagogue (1887); and a setting of Byron's Hebrew Melodies. His leaning toward the East European style is discernible in the settings of prayers Halokh ve-Karata, U-Netanneh Tokef, and Adonai Mah Adam. Henle wrote articles on synagogue music, the training of cantors, and similar subjects, and was an advocate of moderate Reform.
bibliography:
Sendrey, Music, indices; A. Friedmann, Lebensbilder beruehmter Kantoren, 2 (1921), 152–6; E. Zaludkowski, Kultur Treger fun der Yidisher Liturgie (1930), 274–5; Idelsohn, Music, 240, 292.
[Joshua Leib Ne'eman]