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Sephardic Hazzanut, Liturgy and Music


Click the lines below to link to various selections on this page:


Introduction
The sound and music provided here comprises the Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation liturgy, biblical recitations, and its cultural music stemming from its Turkish origins. Also provided here are selected poetry chanted on various holidays throughout the Jewish calendar and composed by some of the greatest Sephardic scholars and composers of the middle ages.
The following are explanations on the type of music that is provided:
  1. Liturgy – This section consists of excerpts from the prayers recited during services in various traditional Makam (plural, Makamim), a distinct series of notes, or mode, characteristic of the ancient music of Turkey from where the synagogue's roots are founded. For more information on Makam click this link.

  2. Biblical – This category provides various vocal recitations of Biblical selections. Each Shabbat, a portion from the Five Books of Moses is read. A thematic corresponding selection from the Prophets follows, utilizing a different musical mode. On special holidays such as Purim, Shavu'ot, and the Fast of Av and others the books of Esther, Ruth, or Lamentations, respectively, are recited, each with its own unique set of notes and styles.

  3. Weekly Perasha – This is a reference point for those wishing to hear and study the recitation of the first Torah portion that will be recited on the upcoming Shabbat service. It is also previewed each week on the Saturday evening, Monday morning, and Thursday morning prayers prior to the Shabbat portion. Eventually this will include the 1st Aliya (portion) for the weekly readings for the entire year.

  4. Piyutim – Featured are some of the greatest compositions by Sephardic scholars of the Middle Ages who were not only master rhetoricians with biblical and rabbinic texts, but also master composers of poetry as well, whose messages through poetry and music are timeless. They are recited passionately and with great sentiment in our synagogue and in Sephardic synagogues the world over.
    Some of the featured selections were by composed by prominent scholars such as Rabbi Hai Gaon, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, Rabbi Shelomo ibn Gabirol.

  5. Ladino Music – Woven into the culture and minds of the Judeo Spanish people are its moving musical renditions in their native tongue, Ladino. A variation of a type of Spanish with Hebrew interspersed throughout, Ladino has survived for the past 500 years. It is still included in portions of the service as well. Much of the Ladino music are "romanzas" or forms of love songs portraying the character and 'joie de vivre' of the communal life from whence these composers and writers came, reflecting their spirit, life's challenges, and joys.
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Note: This web site uses the Ogg Vorbis sound format.
If you are unable to hear the sound a short pause after clicking a link, you need to install the supporting software
.
for Microsoft Windows, click this link     Help/Guide for Windows download

Most Linux and Mac computers already have this software installed.

You also need to have Java
The sound will start a few seconds after clicking the 'Play' button, following the buffering of the sound file, which is the cause for the short delay.

All the sound tracks are sung by Rabbi Frank Varon, Hazzan of Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation unless otherwise noted.

Liturgy
Maroon Bullet Kiddush Lel Rosh HaShana
- the traditional Kiddush for the First Night of Rosh HaShana. (2:04 Minutes)
   
Maroon Bullet Kiddush for the First and Second Days of Rosh HaShana
- the traditional Kiddush. (0:59 Seconds)
   
Maroon Bullet Adonai Hu Ha'Eloheem
- sung at the opening prayers on the morning of Rosh HaShana and on Yom Kippur. (1:58 Minute)
   
Maroon Bullet Adonai Melech
- sung at the opening prayers on the morning of Rosh HaShana and on Yom Kippur. (2:43 Minute)
   
Maroon Bullet Kiddush Lel Shabbat
- the traditional Kiddush for Shabbat Evening. (2:18 Minutes)
   
Maroon Bullet Kiddush Le Yom HaShabbat
- the traditional Kiddush for the Day of Shabbat. (1:30 Minutes)
   
Maroon Bullet Kamti BeAshmoret
- the opening introductory prayer sung before sunrise for the Selihot service (prayers imploring forgiveness) (3:54 Minutes)
   
Maroon Bullet Ben Adam Ma Lecha Nirdam - introductory prayer during the Selihot service (prayers imploring forgiveness) (2:52 Minutes)    

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Parashiyot, Haftarot and Megilot
Biblical including Torah, Prophets and Writings
Maroon Bullet Perasha - First Aliya for the Second day of Rosh HaShana
- an excerpt from Sefer Bereshit (Genesis) concerning 'Akedat Yitzhak' (the binding of Isaac), which is read on the second day of Rosh HaShana (1:13 Minutes)
   
Maroon Bullet Va'titpalel Hanna
- Hanna's Prayer (the mother of the Prophet, Samuel), from the Book of Shemuel (Samuel). Recited on the 2nd day Rosh HaShana after the reading of the Torah (1:58 Minutes)
   


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Weekly Perasha First Aliya Reading
First portion reading of the Torah for the current week
Maroon Bullet   Hayeh Sara - (4:11 Minutes)    
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Piyutim for the Chagim
Holiday and festival liturgical poems
Maroon Bullet Ahoth Ketana - A piyut sung in the synagogue on the first night of Rosh HaShana. It is the opening prayer. (3:14 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet Yedeh Rashim - Piyut, or poetic composition by Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi sung on the first day of Rosh HaShana. (2:58 Minutes)    


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Ladino Music
Maroon Bullet TBD  


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Index of Aliyat Rishon for the weekly Torah Parashiyot
Index of the weekly first Torah portion readings
Maroon Bullet   Bereshit - Genesis (3:09 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet   Noah - (4:00 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet   LechLecha - (3:34 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet   Vayera - (3:43 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet   Hayeh Sara - (4:11 Minutes)    
Maroon Bullet   Toledot - (5:10 Minutes)    
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Last updated on November 16, 2008
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