Jewish Choral Book

SKU: CF.CM9624

ISBN 9781491156971. UPC: 680160915538. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: G minor. English, English. Adapted from NKJV.

With a variety of musical elements reminiscent of Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk songs, Tompkins aptly utilizes the cultural background of Biblical poetry in this dance-like setting for the emerging treble chorus. Mood shifts in the piano part, chorus, and text make this an excellent piece for experimenting with a variety of timbres, vocal colors, and expression. Highly suitable for year-round programming needs.
Adonai, My Shepherd (Psalm 23) is an English translation* of a song taken from the Tehillim (Psalms), an ancient Hebrew text which is also part of a larger collection of sacred writings, called the Ketuvim. The book of Psalms can also be found in the Bible's Old Testament. Designed to recognize the cultural background of the poetry, the musical elements of this piece are reminiscent of Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk songs. The tambourine has been added as a rhythmic device, appropriate to some types of Middle Eastern folk music, and to suggest a dance-like atmosphere. Mood shifts in the piano, chorus and text make this an excellent piece for experimenting with a variety of timbres, vocal colors and expression. For ensembles looking to incorporate added artistic dimension to performances, choirs are encouraged to make use of the performance space through creative blocking and/or movement appropriate to the style of each section. *English translation is adapted from The Complete Jewish Bible, (tr. Stern, used with permission) and The New King James Version (ed. Farstad). https://www.britannica.co m/art/tambourine.
Adon ai, My Shepherd (Psalm 23) is an English translation* of a song taken from the Tehillim (Psalms), an ancient Hebrew text which is also part of a larger collection of sacred writings, called the Ketuvim. The book of Psalms can also be found in the Bible’s Old Testament.Designed to recognize the cultural background of the poetry, the musical elements of this piece are reminiscent of Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk songs. The tambourine has been added as a rhythmic device, appropriate to some types of Middle Eastern folk music, and to suggest a dance-like atmosphere.Mood shifts in the piano, chorus and text make this an excellent piece for experimenting with a variety of timbres, vocal colors and expression. For ensembles looking to incorporate added artistic dimension to performances, choirs are encouraged to make use of the performance space through creative blocking and/or movement appropriate to the style of each section.*English translation is adapted from The Complete Jewish Bible, (tr. Stern, used with permission) and The New King James Version (ed. Farstad).https://www.brit annica.com/art/tambourine .

SKU: CF.CM9721

ISBN 9781491161005. UPC: 680160919604. Key: C major. English. Psalm 121.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. --Psalm 121, King James Version Psalm 121, from the canonical Book of Psalms, is one of fifteen psalms (meaning sacred song or hymn) included in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). These powerful texts about hope and perseverance were likely chanted by Jewish pilgrims as they traversed the ascending road into Jerusalem, which sits atop a hill known as Mount Zion. Thousands of years later, the words of Psalm 121 continue to uplift and inspire those afflicted with pain, grief, or suffering; one need only look to the hills.  .
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”—P salm 121, King James VersionPsalm 121, from the canonical Book of Psalms, is one of fifteen “psalms” (meaning sacred song or hymn) included in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). These powerful texts about hope and perseverance were likely chanted by Jewish pilgrims as they traversed the ascending road into Jerusalem, which sits atop a hill known as Mount Zion.Thousands of years later, the words of Psalm 121 continue to uplift and inspire those afflicted with pain, grief, or suffering; one need only “look to the hills.” .

SKU: GI.G-CD-914

UPC: 747313307074.

The first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank takes the teenager's remarkable and penetrating observations, written whilst hiding in an Amsterdam attic, as the basis of its extaordinary and moving libretto. Whitbourn's music for this work has been described as woundingly beautiful (The Daily Telegraph). He reflects sounds of the Westerkerk bells and tunes heard on the radio in the Annexe, along with representations of Anne Frank's Jewish and German heritage, details that add to a score whose respectful understatement is its greatest strength (The Times). This Grammy Award Nominated recording is conducted by James Jordan with Soprano, Arianna Zukerman, the Westminster Williamson Voices, and The Lincoln Trio with Bharat Chandra, on Clarinet. For an insightful look into the making of this heartbreakingly stunning recording, be sure to read The Musicians Trust (G-8388) written by James Jordan and James Whitbourn. A portion of the book chronicles the process that culminated in the now Grammy nominated recording and details the journey to its creation.  Visit the Grammy's website.

SKU: HL.48025186

ISBN 9781784545147. UPC: 196288116479. 9.0x12.0x0.28 inches.

A setting of passages from the Book of Revelation, with particular reference to the angels who appear with seven trumpet blasts, heralding a series of apocalyptic scenes. Commissioned by Jeffrey Skidmore, director of Ex Cathedra, and first performed by them at Birmingham Town Hall in 2015. The composer states, “There is a vividness and strangeness in these dramatic texts, which are endlessly fascinating and disturbing. The instruments used here are based on the various instrumental types mentioned throughout scripture - trumpets, harp, bells, cymbals, tabor, rebec.” These are scored for mostly in their modern forms, but shofars (Jewish ritual temple trumpets) and early trumpets are also used. The choral writing shows a similar contrast between traditional and contemporary scoring, with polyphony and homophony alongside extended vocal techniques, including Sprechstimme. Leading choral director Paul Spicer comments, “This is an extremely dramatic work which draws the listener into the apocalyptic story line...The ending is cataclysmic.”.