There are more factors that contributed towards the decline of the chazzanus. Many areas in art, whether it be music or otherwise, have suffered increasingly in past years. There are no composers like there were in yesteryear. It is generally accepted that contemporary opera singers do have the same skills that the ‘greats’ used to have. Sadly, ‘true,’ timeless art has taken a back seat to popular art and has sufferred accordingly. There was a day when opera houses were packed at each and every performance. I know someone who was asked to come into the Met on opening night this year in an effort to get a full crowd. It is a shame, but it is the reality we face. In a sense, the same way that many would prefer to hear a pop singer versus a well-trained singer – many Jews would rather hear one of their ‘friend singers’ in shul perform, over one who has honed his craft.
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