title: Adon Olam (Master of the Universe)
composer: Kenneth Lampl
publisher:
catalogue number:
voicing: SATB , divisi
accompaniment: a cappella
language: Hebrew
text: Synagogue liturgy
year of composition:
timing: 5:10
recordings: Zamir – From Boston to Berlin
level of difficulty: moderate
service: any
description: A touching setting of the text, evoking the cosmic sense of the lyrics. Lampl composes in a contemporary style, largely homophonic, with lush chords and lots of divisi (a la Whitaker)..
title: Adon Olam (Master of the Universe)
composer: Salamone Rossi
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 982045
voicing: SATB SATB
accompaniment: a cappella
language: Hebrew
text: Solomon Ibn Gabirol
year of composition: 1622 (published)
timing: 2:10
recordings: Rossi
level of difficulty: moderate (8 parts)
service: any
description: Salamone Rossi, a Jewish composer working in the Gonzaga court in Mantua at the beginning of the seventeenth century, composed the only substantial collection of polyphonic music for the synagogue to appear before the nineteenth century. “Adon Olam” is a majestic motet in eight parts, utilizing cori spezzati.
title: Adon Olam (Master of the Universe)
composer: Robert Stern
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 991297
voicing: SA
accompaniment: piano (optional handbells)
language: Hebrew
text: synagogue liturgy
year of composition: c. 1990
timing: 3:15
recordings: Naxos 8.559406
level of difficulty: challenging
service: any
description: An effervescent setting for women’s chorus of Ibn Gabirol’s liturgical hymn.
title: Adonai Ro’i (The Lord Is My Shepherd)
composer: Gerald Cohen
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 993121 (unison version is 991440)
voicing: SATB (S solo) (or unison)
accompaniment: piano
language: Hebrew
text: Psalm 23
year of composition: SATB version in 2001
timing: 3:45
recordings:
level of difficulty: moderate
service: funeral
description: Originally composed for a friend’s funeral, Cohen’s composition has a sweet and tender quality. It should be sung with lyrical phrasing and delicacy of expression.
title: Al HaNissim (For the Miracles)
composer: Dov Frimer (arranged by Joshua Jacobson and Hankus Netsky)
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 991306
voicing: SATB, div
accompaniment: piano (and optional clarinet or full klezmer band)
language: Hebrew
text: liturgy for Chanukah
year of composition: 1989 (arrangement)
timing: 2:10
recordings: Lights
level of difficulty: moderate
service: Chanukah
description: This joyous setting of a few words from a Chanukah prayer is in a lively “klezmer” idiom. The lyrics thank God for His miracles. The music is not difficult, but does require sustained energy, especially from the basses who are required to sing forte marcato in the top of their register.
title: American Kedushah, An
composer: Alice Parker
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 993125
voicing: SATB (S and T soli)
accompaniment: a cappella
language: Hebrew and English
text: Sabbath morning service
year of composition: 1999
timing: 10:30
recordings: Jewish Composers in America
level of difficulty: challenging
service: Shabbat morning
description: Parker composed this setting on commission from the American Guild of Organists. Other than one traditional Ashkenazic melody (ve’enenu tir’ena), the work is completely original, a lyrical and dramatic setting of the Jewish sanctification of God’s name.
title: Avinu Malkeynu (Our Father, Our King)
composer: Max Janowski
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 986203
voicing: SATB, T solo
accompaniment: piano (or organ)
timing: 3:20
language: Hebrew
text: synagogue liturgy
year of composition: 1967
recordings: RCA 77388, Sony 66181
level of difficulty: moderate
service: Yom Kippur or any fast day
description: Janowski’s affinity for the Eastern European styles of synagogue music is apparent in this setting of the penitential prayer, “Avinu Malkeynu” (“Our Father, Our King”). The soloist’s line, in the Aeolian mode, is replete with melismatic ornaments. In the traditional manner, the choir alternatively gives the cantor harmonic support or repeats the main melodic ideas. The keyboard part (piano or organ) is not technically demanding, but is of great interest in its exploration of various colorful modal harmonies.
title: Enosh Kechotzir Yomov (Human Life is Brief)
composer: Louis Lewandowski
publisher: Broude Brothers
catalogue number: CR 65
voicing: SATB
accompaniment: organ
language: Hebrew (English alternate)
text: Psalm 103:15 - 17
year of composition: c. 1882
timing: 4:30
recordings: The Majesty of Holiness, The Songs Live On
level of difficulty: moderate
service: funeral
description: One of Lewandowski’s most moving compositions, this work, written for a memorial service, describes the ephemeral nature of human life in poignant tones. Similar in style to Mendelssohn. An orchestration is available from Transcontinental Publications.
title: Ets Chayim Hi (It Is a Tree of Life)
composer: Robbie Solomon
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 993171
voicing: SATB
accompaniment: (optional piano)
language: Hebrew
text: liturgy
year of composition:
timing:
recordings:
level of difficulty: easy to moderate
service: Torah service
description: A sweet setting of the liturgy that ends the Torah service. “The Torah is a tree of life to all those who cling to her.”
title: Half Kaddish (Santification, shorter form)
composer: Jack Gottlieb
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 983012
voicing: SATB
accompaniment: piano (or brass ensemble)
language: Aramaic (or English)
text: liturgy
year of composition:
timing: 2:15
recordings: Jewish Composers in America
level of difficulty: challenging
service: any
description: An energetic setting of the Jewish doxology by Leonard Bernstein’s musical assistant. The driving Bernsteinian rhythms give this composition an exciting edge. The modes are somewhat challenging, as is the rapid articulation of the text.
title: Hal’luhu (Praise Him)
composer: Benjie-Ellen Schiller
publisher: Transcontinental
catalogue number: 991280
voicing: SATB (solo soprano)
accompaniment: piano or guitar and tof (hand drum)
language: Hebrew
text: Psalm 150
year of composition: c. 1987
timing: 2:40
recordings: Jewish Composers in America
level of difficulty: moderate
service: any morning service + Rosh HaShanah Musaf
description: This vibrant setting of Psalm 150 has syncopated horah-like rhythms, mixed meter, and an exotic Mixolydian modality.
title: Halleluyah
composer: Salamone Rossi
publisher: Broude Brothers
catalogue number: CR-25
voicing: SATB
accompaniment: a cappella
timing: 2:30
language: Hebrew (alternate English)
text: Psalm 146
year of composition: 1982
recordings: ROSSI (HZ-910)
level of difficulty: moderate
service: any morning service
description: Salamone Rossi (c. 1570 - c.1630) was a Mantuan violinist and composer in the employ of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga. He was also the first composer to publish a collection of polyphonic motets for the synagogue. The thirty-three motets, set for three to eight voices, include psalms, hymns and prayers for synagogue services or for sacred concerts. “Halleluyah” is included in the liturgy for Sabbath and festival morning services. Rossi’s setting is largely homophonic, similar in style to church music composed by his Christian colleagues.
title: Halleluyoh
composer: Drechsler, Joseph
publisher: Broude Brothers
catalogue number: CR 64
voicing: satb
accompaniment: a cappella
language: Hebrew (optional English text)
text: Psalm 150
year of composition: c. 1865
timing: 1:40
recordings: The Majesty of Holiness
level of difficulty: moderate
service: any morning service + Rosh HaShanah Musaf
description: Salomon Sulzer, the famed cantor of the Seitentettengasse Synagogue in Vienna for most of the nineteenth century, commissioned this work from Joseph Drechsler, the renowned kappelmeister of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The music is succinct but charming, homophonic and rather easy to master.
title: Halleluyoh
composer: Louis Lewandowski
publisher: Broude Brothers
catalogue number: CR-74
voicing: SATB
accompaniment: organ (or piano)
language: Hebrew or English
text: Psalm 150
year of composition: ca. 1882
timing: 2:40
recordings: The Majesty of Holiness
level of difficulty: moderate
service: any morning service + Rosh HaShanah Musaf
description: A majestic anthem by the famed choirmaster of the Oranienburgerstrasse synagogue in Berlin, this rousing work has long been a favorite.
