October 21, 2007

ARTWORKS Josef Germaine

By Denise M. Baran-Unland special to the herald news

Over the years, Josef Germaine performed in many musical comedy shows and operas and appeared on radio and talk shows to discuss his vocal career.

But for the rabbi at the Joliet Jewish Congregation, the most poignant musical moment occurred last summer after Germaine sang the "Ave Maria" during the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. Germaine had paused and told the congregation that he guessed what they were thinking.

"What is a rabbi doing in a Catholic church singing the 'Ave Maria?'" said Germaine, a certified cantor.

"I told them, 'When I look around, I see everyone wearing different clothes, but underneath they are all people.' Then I went into my next song and received a 46-second standing ovation after I finished. That, for me, was more exciting than any other performance."

Voice as an outreach

Since 2004, Germaine has used his musical abilities and religious faith as outreach tools in the Joliet area community.

Not only will Germaine sing Christian hymns in churches, he has sung Christmas songs for the Joliet's chapter of Rotary International and the national anthem at the Joliet JackHammers baseball games.

In 2005, Germaine performed, as a fundraiser for the Joliet Jewish Congregation, a recital, "A Musical Odyssey," at Joliet Junior College, where he sang Jewish folk songs and excerpts from musicals and operas.

Also available is "Josef Germaine, In Liturgy and Song," a collection of Hebrew liturgical and art songs and Yiddish folk songs, which Germaine recorded in 1978.

Through recordings and performances, Germaine hopes to make even more significant connections with people.

"Music is a universal language that speaks to the hearts of all people," Germaine said. "People feel comfortable with me and that makes me feel very good about my position in the community and I appreciate that.

"I feel that I can sing any kind of music and not feel that I have compromised my faith, even though I do not subscribe to their theology. I think that if more people did that, there would be less conflict in the world."

Formal training

Raised in an orthodox Jewish environment in New York, the young Germaine possessed an innate ability and love for music, which his Jewish heritage encouraged. He always knew he would someday become a cantor, though he aspired to engineering.

Then a high school violinist friend encouraged Germaine to formally develop his voice at the Turtle Bay School of Music in Manhattan. Germaine leaped at the chance, despite objections from his parents.

The school, impressed with the young Germaine, offered him a scholarship for one lesson if he paid for the second. Germaine found work as shipping clerk to pay for the lessons and persuaded his mother to purchase for him a piano.

At 19, Germaine performed the lead role in Rogers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and marveled that his picture was in a newspaper advertising it.

The first wave of fame passed, and Germaine then studied music at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He later earned his music degree at the California State University in Fullerton and began touring in operas.

While he enjoyed singing, Germaine didn't like living out of a suitcase and other performer's inflated egos. He soon preferred recitals to theater.

"There had been too many conflicts with the other singers, and I was very much disillusioned by their jealousy," Germaine said. "I had much more cofntrol with the recitals although they are much more difficult and challenging because you are onstage two hours or more and I have to sing in more languages, such as English, French, German and Italian.

"I also had a much better connection with the audience. With operas, your total exposure is maybe half an hour."

Recordings of Germaine's voice are available.

The DVD -- "A Musical Odyssey" -- can be purchased for $15 by calling the Joliet Jewish Congregation at (815) 741-4600.

A digitally remastered CD of Josef Germaine, In Liturgy and Song is available for $15. To purchase, visit www.josefgermaine.com.