Most of us are connected to a piece of music, or a melody, secular or religious that moves us to a different time and place. The melodies we hear on the High Holy Days are thick with meaning and tradition. Many of us have sung and prayed to these tunes for most of our lives. This year’s high holy days, without some of our most favorite tunes and missing the majestic depth of our choir, will certainly prove very different. I promise they will still be as meaningful and beautiful as ever!
COVID-19 may have impeded in person choral singing, but we are not deterred. Coming to you in several Facebook Live presentations, on Instagram and on our website, are five incredible collaborations. Mah
Tovu, Elohai N’tzor, and Sim Shalom are three of our most beloved choral settings at Temple Emanu-El. The textured harmonies add a sense of uplift, inspiration and an aura of drama and profound meaning to our high holy day prayers. Led by our fearless conductor Melissa Fontaine, guided by the beautiful piano of Ann Rollins, our pros and volunteers of Shir Ha-Esh choir worked tirelessly to put these three pieces together for you. We had a fabulous time! If you are interested in choral singing, we are going strong over the virtual waves-please be in touch!
A very special guest joined me for two famous TE musical moments. Many of you know Sydney Levy, daughter of Andrea and Sam Levy, who has been singing with me and with our choir for some time. She is all grown up and off to Israel, and made time before she left to record Yih’yu L’Ratzon and V’al Kulam with me. She sounds absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait for you to hear her!
All of these presentations will be “dropped” over Facebook on Tuesdays and Fridays over the high holy days. Here you will be able to read a bit about the composer and prayer and learn a little bit about each composition and liturgical moment. If you can’t wait, you can find them all on our website here (hyperlink to this address: https://templeemanuelatlanta.org/create-music/sounds-of-temple-emanu-el/)
May these musical offerings bring you a sense of spiritual comfort, healing, wholeness, and connection. May these high holy days be the beginning of a year full of sweetness and blessing. Wishing each of you a “L’Shana Tova u’Metukah” a year of goodness and sweetness.
B’shira (In Song)
Cantor Lauren Adesnik
