MAOZ TZUR -
Hymn for Chanukkah
by Michael Reid Winikoff
Hymn in Four Parts - SATB or TBTB
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DURATION: 1:52 Purchase
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minor) Listen/View Listen Only (faster load) -- for TBTB (F minor) Listen/View Listen Only (faster load) THE TEXT - Maoz Tzur is widely known as the hymn for Chanukkah, but in fact the complete hymn is concerned not only with the story of the Maccabbees, but with other tales of deliverance from Egypt, Babylonia and Persia. The well-known Hebrew text in this setting, as in the classic settings, is the opening verse of that six-verse hymn (translated below). The newly-composed English stanza is not intended as a translation of the Hebrew, but makes reference to it as well as to an emblematic precept of this Festival of Dedication, found in the haftarah (prophetic reading) for the first Sabbath of Chanukkah: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” - Zachariah 4:6. PERFORMANCE - This hymn may be sung in harmony or in unison, with or without accompaniment.  |
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MA-OZ TZUR (Translation of First Verse) |
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| Ma-oz tzur y'shuati L'cha na-eh l'shabeiach Tikon beit t'filati V'sham toda n'zabeiach L'eit tachin matbeiach Mitzar hamnabeiach Az egmor b'shir mizmor Chanukat hamizbeiach |
My Rock and Salvation It is good to praise You. Rebuild my house of prayer, Where I will render You thanksgiving. As You ravage Our maligning foes, I shall celebrate with song and psalm The altar [re]dedicated. |