Tracks
Track |
Time |
Play |
| L'kha dodi | 05:17 | |
| Hashkivenu | 03:34 | |
| Silent Devotion and Yih'yu l'ratzon | 02:39 | |
| Vay'khullu | 01:04 | |
| Kiddush | 02:50 |
Liner Notes
Shiru Ladonai, a unified kabbalat shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) and Sabbath eve service with the subtitle Sing to God, was commissioned in 1970 by Cantor David Putterman and the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York as part of its internationally celebrated program of commissioning and premiering new liturgical music on an annual basis. From the outset, Kingsley’s artistic concept embraced the juxtaposition of a relatively traditional melodic approach, with attention to established prayer modes, against what he viewed as the “color potential” of synthesized orchestration. Unlike Shabbat for Today, this piece was composed specifically for organ and Moog synthesizer. The Moog was used to accompany all movements. But his inspiration to compose the work, as he freely commented later, came from his love of the poetry contained in the liturgy rather than from any personal attraction to formalized religious observance or ritual.
For the Milken Archive, Kingsley recorded the orchestration using his own synthesizers. That required some reorchestration to remove some of the muddy effects of simply transferring the orchestral realization from the earlier technology of the 1970s; and some of the harmonies had to be given wider space.
The premiere at the Park Avenue Synagogue’s Twenty-sixth Annual Service of New Liturgical Music, in May 1970, marked the first-ever usage of the Moog synthesizer for an entire service in any synagogue, as well as its first appearance at all in connection with worship in a Conservative congregation. That landmark was prominently noted on the program booklet. “I don’t consider it a ‘jazz’ or ‘rock’ service at all,” Kingsley has explained. “I think it’s very traditional, except that all of the accompaniment is played by synthesizers.” Indeed, immediately following that premiere, Cantor Putterman, who had just sung the solo part, remarked to Kingsley: “Gershon, it’s a wonderful composition! But do you think we could do it without the Moog?”
Lyrics
L'KHA DODI
Sung in Hebrew
Translation: Rabbi Morton M. Leifman
REFRAIN:
Beloved, come—let us approach the Sabbath bride
and welcome the entrance of our Sabbath, the bride.
II. Let us go, indeed hasten to greet the Sabbath,
For she is the source of blessing.
From creation’s primeval beginnings that blessing has flowed.
For on the seventh day—the end of the beginning of creation—God made His Sabbath.
But He conceived of her on the first of the days—
at the beginning of the beginning of creation.
[REFRAIN]
V. Awaken, awaken!
Your light has come.
Arise and shine, Awake, awake—
Speak a song! Sing a poem!
The glory of the Lord is revealed to you.
[REFRAIN]
IX. Sabbath, you who are your Master’s crown,
Come in peace, in joy, in gladness
Into the midst of the faithful of a remarkably special people.
Come, O Sabbath bride—
Bride, come!
[REFRAIN]
HASHKIVENU
Sung in Hebrew
Cause us, O Lord, our God, to retire for the evening in peace and then again to arise unto life, O our King, and spread Your canopy of peace over us. Direct us with Your counsel and save us for the sake of Your name. Be a shield around us. Remove from our midst all enemies, plague, sword, violence, famine, hunger, and sorrow. And also remove evil temptation from all around us, sheltering us in the shadow of Your protecting wings. For indeed You are a gracious and compassionate King. Guard our going and coming, for life and in peace, from now on and always. [Spread over us the sheltering canopy of Your peace. You are worshiped, O Lord (He is worshiped, and His name is worshiped), who spreads the canopy of peace over us and over all Your people Israel, and over all Jerusalem. Amen.]
SILENT DEVOTION AND YIH'YU L'RATZON
Sung in Hebrew and English
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto Thee, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer. Amen
VAY'KHULLU
Sung in Hebrew
Translation: JPS Tanakh 1999
The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day God finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God ceased from all the work of creation that He had done.
KIDDUSH
Sung in Hebrew
Translation: Rabbi Morton M. Leifman
You are worshiped, O Lord (He is worshiped, and His name is worshiped), our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine. Amen.
You are worshiped, O Lord (He is worshiped, and His name is worshiped), our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us through His commandments and has taken delight in us. Out of love and with favor You have given us the Holy Sabbath as a heritage, in remembrance of Your creation. For that first of our sacred days recalls our exodus and liberation from Egypt. You chose us from among all Your peoples, and in Your love and favor made us holy by giving us the holy Sabbath as a joyous heritage. You are worshiped, O Lord (He is worshiped, and His name is worshiped), who hallows the Sabbath. Amen
Credits
Composer: Gershon KingsleyPerformers: Gershon Kingsley, Conductor and Synthesizers; Howard Stahl, Cantor; The Kingsley Singers; Lisa Vroman, Soprano
Publisher: Transcontinental Music
The Kingsley Jazz Singers are: Al Arioli, Jane Barnett, Mary Sue Berry, Stephen Carter-Hicks, Maureen Dodson, Paul Evans, Christine Faith, Gary Green, Jeff Lyons, Michael Mark, Helen Miles, Arleen Martell, Mark Rehnstrom, Lenny Roberts, Paul Rolnick, David Seatter, Patricia Steiner, Terry Textor
