“I find myself drawn to the compositions of Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz and of Anshie Friedman”

Sometimes it’s the industry outsiders who create the most intriguing pieces of music, because there are no expectations. “I find myself drawn to the compositions of Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz and of Anshie Friedman,” says SHLOIME GERTNER, “and I suspect it’s because those composers are not in the music industry as a career, and therefore not under the constant pressure of having to produce more material, so I find that I specifically want to hear what they have to say.” Often, he says, there is something unexpected and refreshing about their work: an original choice of words, or a different mood in the music.

“For example,” says Shloime, “I love the sheer creativity of ‘Kruvim Elyonim,’ which Anshie wrote together with Avrohom Mordche Schwartz, and of Shlomo Yehuda’s ‘Ani Maamin,’ which Avraham Fried sang on Shir 3.” He’s often requested to since Shlomo Yehuda’s “Im Eshkacheich” at chuppahs, which he says is also something different and special. “We’re used to the idea that Hashem gives a person talent in a certain field to use for his parnassah, but this seems like an intriguing kind of extra. I’ve sat down to jam and sing together with Anshie Friedman, and hopefully we’ll get to collaborate on the right song one day.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 914)