David Strelisker

David Strelisker (1783 – 1848), often called Dovidl Brod, was a Hungarian cḥazzan known for his improvised melodies and for shaping a distinct cantorial style in Hungary and Galicia.

Early life and background​

Strelisker was born in Brody in 1783. As a child prodigy he sang in synagogues and was permitted to officiate in his native town while still young. He received no formal musical training and did not serve as a meshorer (choir singer) under another chazzan. Although originally destined for the rabbinate, he entered business and worked as an accountant and merchant, offering his singing talent when traveling.

Cantorial career​

After losing his fortune, he accepted a professional post as cantor in Alt-Ofen (Óbuda), in 1822, reportedly on the recommendation of his friend Salomon Kashtan. In 1830 he moved to Pest (now part of Budapest), where he officiated as cantor until his death in 1848.

Musical style and influence​

Unable to read or write music, Strelisker improvised his melodies and left no written compositions. Despite this, he is credited with creating an original style of chazzanut that heavily influenced cantors in Hungary and Galicia. His choristers carried his style onward, and later accounts describe it as rooted in the Ahava Rabba and Mi Sheberach modes. In his later years he attempted to learn musical rudiments but concluded it was too late to master formal notation.

Legacy​

Though no authenticated compositions survive, Strelisker’s reputation rests on the breadth of his influence. Many cantors and their pupils adopted his melodic approach, and he is described in cantorial literature as a pivotal figure in the Hungarian tradition.