A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sulzer, Salomon
SULZER, Salomon, Precentor of the Jews' synagogue in Vienna, and reformer of their musical service, was born March 30, 1804, at Hohenems in Vorarlberg. The name was derived from Sulz in Würtemberg, the ancient residence of the family. When only 13 he was made cantor of the synagogue at his native village by the Emperor Franz I, and in 1825 was called to Vienna to conduct the music at the newly built synagogue there. There he took lessons in composition from Seyfried, and set himself earnestly to reform the service by reducing the old melodies to rhythm and harmonising them. His collection of Jewish hymns, under the name of 'Schir Zion,' the Harp of Zion, was used all over Germany, Italy, and even America; but it was not till 1838 that he could succeed in publishing it. It contains a setting of the 92nd Psalm (in Moses Mendelssohn's version) by Schubert, for Baritone solo, and 4 men's voices, made in July 1828, the autograph of which is in possession of the synagogue (Nottebohm's Catalogue, p. 229). In 1842 a second edition appeared, and in 1865 a second volume. A collection of home and school songs, entitled 'Dudaim' (Mandrakes), appears to be still in MS. In 1866 a fête was held in his honour and a silver laurel presented to him, with the inscription 'The Artists of Vienna to the Artist Sulzer.' From 1844 to 47 he was Professor of Singing at the Vienna Conservatorium. He is a Ritter of the order of Franz Joseph (1868) and carries the medals of various societies. His voice, a baritone, is said to have been magnificent, and he was greatly esteemed and beloved inside and outside of his own community.
His two daughters, Marie and Henriette are public singers, and his son Joseph is an esteemed cello-player in the Court opera at Vienna.[ G. ]