Meditation for the High Holidays

"Meditation for the High Holidays" utilizes a cantorial chant of the Morning Services of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This chant starts with the words "Kulom Ahuvim".

Written as a "solo with accompaniment", I used the Solo Violincello with Tremulant for the solo, against the Swell strings. The soft 32' is used for the last few chords.

The "older, more traditional" Jewish prayer books have lots of spots for "meditations", and this is the kind of piece that would be played or improvised in these 30-60 seconds "pauses" in the worship.

The newer books are moving away from these "interludes," or so it seems.

With a break of 5 years in the middle, I've worked for the same synagogue since 1990. The Rabbi Emeritus is a great friend and pastor, a true scholar, preacher, and gentleman. He is also a lover of grand ceremonial, and he and I fit together perfectly. "Our services" always had a touch of the "English cathedral", and he was a great fan of the English choral tradition!

Our "new" rabbi, (he's been there 5 years) is also a wonderful guy, with complete honesty and a great sense of humor. He also comes from a "traditional" background, but he does play the guitar, and there is more and more time when I'm "not needed," as the klezmer band has been hired to play.

I'm younger than our Cantor, but my plans are to stay until she retires in a few years. That WILL be the right time for me to go.

As much as have ALWAYS felt loved and part of the Temple family, she and I both feel that, while the organ will continue to "be used" from time, I will be the LAST ORGANIST of the temple...

"L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu" - "May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year."