www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Kliros Cantors of Yesteryear

After learning of the passing +George Kmeck a few weeks ago, I could not help but become a bit preoccupied over the holidays with an longstanding personal commitment to restore some of the choral handiwork of some of our Carpatho-Rusyn masters.

Like many cantors and "prostopinije-philes" of the Passaic Eparchy and elsewhere, I have a good number of photocopies of choral settings collected over the years that were either used or prepared by some of those masters, including +George and most especially + Prof. John Kahanick, who served as cantor and choir director in Passaic for many years until his passing.

A lot of Kahanick's choral work was first compiled while he was in the Midwest (Indiana) and is dated in the 1950's. I started restoring some of this work as a start to this project, and noted some markings of interest on a few of the selections.

Kahanick would always indicate sources on his work in accordance with good norm, including composer and lyricist (for English translations, if they were not his own). He would also customarily sign or initial the final score on the bottom right corner of the final page, indicating the date and location / parish.

On a few of the pieces I'm working on now, there are notations that seem to be in his handwriting, but with the name "A. Petrov" (in one instance, "Andy"), signed from Gary, IN and dated 1953. There are other settings dated this year as well, but with Kahanick's name or initials as expected.

I know there was a Rusyn author and a Russian composer of that name, but Prof would normally acknowledge an original composer or arranger in proper fashion in the heading at the top of each score he arranged based on these works if that were the case, and not in this place.

Could there have been a cantor by that name based in or around Gary, IN at that time? Someone that might have assisted Prof Kahanick in preparing these arrangements? I know there are a few Petrov's in that neck of the woods. I would like to properly acknowledge sources as these restorations are being completed, so any help with this mystery would be greatly appreciated.

I'll thank all in advance for any assistance you may be able to give.

P.S. Maybe we can roll this thread for a while to recognize the great and dedicated cantors and choir directors of yesteryear.

I'll bump this thread, which I've only just seen, by recognizing Cantor Peter Kennis. I never knew him but he apparently was an important influence on a priest, Fr. Stephen Meholick, who is an important influence in my life and himself has nurtured a wonderful choir [stnicholasmarin.org] in his own parish, St. Nicholas. Fr. Stephan told the story a couple of years ago at the PSALM workshop of being told by one of the babas when he was a boy and old enough to move to the men's side to "go stand by fat man" whom Paul B here identified as Mr. Kennis.

The 50th anniversary book for St. Michael's in Gary IN ( now located in Merrillville IN) (1908-1958) has a whole page devoted to Prof. Kahanick including his biography, photo and years of service.

John - thanks for the post - I should have thought to ask you about such! A lot of the material I'm working on now was drafted by Prof Kahanick in 1953 - 1954. Im sure he was no different in those days than when I knew him in his golden years. He was likely gearing up for that anniversary celebration.

Perhaps a silly question knowing your passion for such things, but do you have this anniversary book in your collection? Is there any way I can get a copy of that page from you?

I will look to find my copy of his bio from the St. Michael's Cathedral Centennial (but you likely have that as well ...).

Blessings!

LTT - thanks for your post. Indeed I had hoped we might generate a good list and perhaps a collection of short bios on the great ones of yesteryear. I'm eager to learn more about Mr. Kennis and his influence on others - thanks for the cross references.

Peace and blessings!

I am in DC this week and next. Will scan the page for you when I return. Professor Kahanick also served at St. John's in Minneapolis in the 1940s. I would like to propose that of the churches which will observe centennials and 75th anniversaries in 2012 should present the names, years of service and biographies of their cantors. In 2012, St. Mary's in Brockton PA and St. Thomas of Rahway NJ will mark their centennials. There is also a very large group of Carpatho-Russian Orthodox churches which mark their 75th anniversaries in the next few years. All of these share in the magnificent legacy that is Prostopinije.

Cantor +Peter Kennis was my wife's great-grandfather. I am told on a warm summer morning his voice would be heard all through town. I'm quite sure I was born in the wrong century!

What a beautiful memory of an assuredly faithful servant of God!

Many have said that the best way to give tribute to our great cantors who have gone to their rest before us is to master and render something for which they were particularly well known, keeping their unique part of our tradition alive.

From your or your wife's memory, was there any particular hymn of chant that was either a favorite of his or of those fortunate enough to have heard his voice in glory of God? If so, we can spread the word so that cantors of the day can focus on this work in their own parishes, in his memory. I know I sure would!

My name is Karen Kmeck Burke. My dad was George Kmeck. How I miss him as does our church. I was just asking my mom what is going to happen to the slavonic music books we have in Jersey City. Each group alto, soprano, tenor and bass, had their own book for their music. Each musical piece was handwritten and composed by Father Andrekovich. How sad when I see these historic books laying in boxes in the choir loft. Just think, a priest handwrote the music and these are the original books. Im hoping they can be put in some sort of museum. I hope someone has some ideas for me to pass on.

Karen, as your father was very special to me and to many, I offer my continual condolences to you, your mom and the entire Kmeck family. Indeed it was his passing that prompted me to initiate this thread. I was glad I was able to make it to his funeral Divine Liturgy, and lend my voice that he himself helped cultivate.

I was a young man when +Prof Kahanick and your dad took me along on many an adventure, and instilled in me a passion for our great chant and choral traditions. In addition to the work of Father Andrekovich, your father also used the handiwork of our respected mutual mentor.

I remember hearing a recording of a very young +George, singing "Old Man River". He, Prof K, John Paulich and other old members of the Jersey City clan would often share stories of those days they shared together, which were obviously filled with love for each other and their beloved church.

FYI - I am working as steadily as I can on restoring the work of +Prof. Kahanick, recompiling all of his arrangements using modern software, yet retaining the original character of the setting. I would welcome the chance to do the same with the material used by your father and his blessed St. Mary's choir, but only have copies of one or two arrangements that were in the St. Mary's repertoire. Kindly PM me when you have a moment, as I would love to help keep this work alive and relevant.

May your father's memory be eternal! Vichnaja pamjat!

Here is a basic obituary for Professor John Kahanick, also, I have uploaded his arrangement of the hymn for the Archangel Michael

John Kahanick, Died March 2, 1988

Bergen Co NJ Record, Wednesday March 4, 1998

John Kahanick, a cantor at St. Michael The Archangel Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Passaic died Monday.

He was 83, and succumbed to congestive heart failure at The General Hospital Center at Passaic. He began studying choir singing on his own in Dunmore, Pa. Soon after, he was teaching others, forming junior and senior choirs at churches in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kahanick received a degree in music from the University of Minnesota. He later trained for the opera, and when the time came to choose between choir leadership and the opera, Kahanick, a tenor, chose the choir.

Mr. Kahanick's wife, Mary, was deceased. He is survived by his brother, George, of Scranton, Pa.; sisters Pauline of Dunmore, Pa., and Mary of New York City; nephews, Michael
Fatula and Michael Masich, and nieces Doreen Fatula and Delia Lafferty.

Parastas scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton. A service
will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Michael.


Joe, I also have alot of sheet music from Prof, if you are interested I can scan it and compile a booklet for you and forward to you. Some of it is hand written scores.

Karen,

Welcome to the forum. I'd offer as one possibile suggestion, The Bishop Emil J. Mihalik Center for Byzantine Catholic Culture and the Carpatho-Rusin Museum, which is located at the Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians. Lory Nemeth, who is the Eparchy's Director of Communications and a member here, could likely put you in contact with the right person. You can find contact info for her here [parma.org] or send her a PM here.

A couple of other suggestions:

The Archeparchy's Metropolitan Cantor Institute - contact information for Jeff Mierzejewski, the Institute's webmaster and a member here (where he posts as byzkat) is at its site [metropolitancantorinstitute.org] or send him a PM here.

The Carpatho-Rusyn Society has a Cultural Center at the former Cathedral in Munhall. Contact information can be found at the Society's site [carpathorusynsociety.org] or John Schweich, a Trustee of the C-RS and member here, can likely put you in touch with the right person there. You can send a PM to John here.

Joe or some of our other cantors might have additional suggestions.

Many years,

Neil

Thank you for the suggestions. I am going to run this by my mom and some remaining choir members.

I apologize for not knowing how to PM you. Im assuming PM is private message. Well anyhow, I noticed in church yesterday that my dad had copied some of the music from the big brown handwritten music books. My mom said the choir was singing at some function honoring the author and writer of the books, Father Andreykovich (sic). Wow, what a job that entailed. He made duplicate books for the choir. I dont think the whole mass is in the books but i really didnt look yet. My mom said select songs were picked out and these are in these books. There are extra books so if you send me your address I would be willing to mail each musical sections book to you. Kenny Dilks suggested the original books could go in the museum in Passaic.

Karen, the sterling idea of your dad's books being offered to the Eparchial Heritage Museum I believe is an outstanding consideration. Having visited the musuem (and done research) numerous times I can tell you their holdings are very well cataloged, properly maintained and are on view for all to learn from and enjoy. The Mueseum/Library holdings are an extensive repositity and each time someone wishes to offer another item, it just expands these magnificent historical documents; which, will be preserved and honored at the museum.

The Epharchial Heritage Museum and Library are located at
the Byzantine Catholic Epharchy of Passaic, 445 Lackawanna Avenue, Woodland Park, New Jersey 07424 Phone: 973 890-7777