The Music of Israel - Part 11, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
09/26/2024 03:35:12 PM
As I write this, I am listening to the beautiful music of Yonina, a young Israeli - American duo. They live in Northern Israel. They have been creating weekly home or open air videos which they post on youtube. They often have one of their three children on their lap or nearby. They sing so sweetly and are so comforting. Their repertoire runs the gamut from old Israeli songs to newer songs. I want to share their recording of the classic song written by Naomi Shemer: B'Rosh Hashanah. Here is the translation: and to listen click: Yonina B'Rosh Hashanah
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, In my garden bloomed a rose.
On Rosh Hashanah, a white sailboat, Suddenly set anchor by the shore.
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today, Be wonderful and special in every way.
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, In the autumn sky bloomed a first cloud.
On Rosh Hashanah, Rising like a memorial flame, In the meadow bloomed the first squill.
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today, Be wonderful and special in every way.
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, Bloomed a melody - new and unknown,
And overnight its strains did resound, From every casement in town.
On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah, Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today, Be wonderful and special in every way.
This next piece is a "repeat". I shared it last year. The text is one of the most powerful poems in the High Holiday liturgy, featured in the Musaf service, sung before the Kedushah. There are a variety of legends about the origin of the poem. It is often ascribed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz. There is a horrific story which I will let you research, a story which just about gave me nightmares as a child. The poem describes God as each of our names in inscribed in the book of life. It continues with a description of the fragility of human life. This setting was composed by Yair Rosenblum, a prolific Israeli composer. IN 1990 He came to stay in Kibbutz Beit Hashittah, a kibbutz which lost 11 members in the Yom Kippur war He stayed up all night writing this arrangement which has become a classic setting. Yair Rosenblum U'netaneh Tokef performed by IDF. The lyrical melody that comes back as a refrain talks about the "Great Shofar" and the Angels who proclaim "Here is the day of judgement".
Shanah Tovah to you all, I hope to see you all in shul and I truly hope my voice will be restored!