Choral Works for the
Jewish High Holy Days
by Michael Reid Winikoff
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The Jewish High Holy Days, more formally known as
the Yamim Noraim or "Days of Awe," include the major
observances of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and
Yom Kippur
(Day of Atonement), but actually comprise a continual season that begins
in earnest with the inaugural recitation of S'lichot (the
penitential liturgy) starting the Saturday night at least 4 days prior
to Rosh Hashanah. According to tradition, the season
represents a time when all creatures stand in judgment before G-d.
To a greater degree than with Shabbat, the music of the High Holy Days
features so-called "mi-sinai" ("from
Sinai") tunes, a euphemism for the ancient, authentic
nature of such chants as Kol Nidrei,
Aleinu "Hagadol"
and other passages, as though they had been handed down at Sinai (though most date from the Middle Ages or later).
In addition to these more-or-less complete chants, we find the
"S'licha" mode (named for the penitential prayers associated with
it), a group of rather specific motifs that are combined in various ways
depending on the service and even on discrete sections and prayers; and
often featuring a scale known as "Ukrainian Dorian", a
Dorian scale with a characteristic raised fourth degree. Other
nuschaot are based in the general "Ahava Raba" and
"A-donay Malach"
modes such as are encountered in the Shabbat liturgy, but which are
distinguished in the High Holy Day chants by slightly different mood and
motivic structure.
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A-DONAY RO-I ("The Lord My
Shepherd Is") |
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ALEINU "HAGADOL" |
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ANA TAVO |
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A BAROQUE S'LICHOT - Inaugural S'lichot service in 29 movements for soloists and SATB chorus with baroque instrumental ensemble of 11 players OR alternative piano reduction. |
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EIL MELECH YOSHEIV |
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HAVEIN YAKIR LI (excerpt from V'al Y'dei Zichronot) |
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HAVIEINU (Motet) |
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HAYOM HARAT OLAM (Anthem - SATB, Soli) |
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HAYOM HARAT OLAM (Motet - SATB a cappella) |
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HAYOM T'AMTZEINU |
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HATZI KADDISH - HH Musaf |
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K'VAKARAT (excerpt from Uv'shofar Gadol) |
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KI KH'SHIMCHA |
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L'DOR VADOR |
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PSALM 24 (L'David Mizmor) |
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PSALM 29 (Mizmor L'David) |
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PSALM 150 |
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SHEHECHEYANU (Evening of High Holy Days) |
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SHIVITI ("Before Me I Have Ever Set the Lord") |
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S'U SH'ARIM ("Lift High Your Lintels") |
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UN'TA-NE TOKEF |
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UV'SHOFAR GADOL |
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V'AL Y'DEI Zichronot YA-ALEH |
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YIGDAL for the Days of Awe |