The Birthday of the World,
Music and Traditions of the High Holy Days:
Part II: Yom Kippur
(CD)

Leonard Nimoy, Guest Narrator
Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble and Guest Choir

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Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble explore the rich and profound musical and spiritual traditions of the Jewish High Holy Days. The Birthday of the World presents some of the most inspiring music of the Jewish Liturgy performed by The Western Wind, guest singers and four internationally renowned cantors. Musical selections include Avinu Malkeinu, Kol Nidre, El Maleh Rachamim, traditional chant and composed works by Sulzer, Secunda and Nowakowsky. A narration performed by actor Leonard Nimoy elucidates the important prayers and illuminates the deeper structure of the liturgy. The recording has been distributed nationally by Public Radio International to over 250 public and classical stations annually since mid-September, 1996.

"The choir sings with notably greater unanimity and dynamic polish than one typically hears at an actual service....There is also a female cantor, Faith Steinsnyder Gurney, whose singing is agile and often stunningly turned, although in terms of range and cantorial virtuosity she has nothing on Alberto Mizrahi, the most impressive of the soloists." Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

Track List (click to download sample):
2. Kol Nidre trans. Secunda (Cantor: Mizrahi) (.mp3) or (.mov)/ V'nislach-Sulzer
4. Omnom Kayn- Secunda
6. Ki Hineh Kachomer- Silver
8. Sh'ma Koleinu- Unknown (Refrain after Lewandowski) (.mp3) or (.mov) / Al Tashlicheinu L'et Zikna- Traditional (Cantor: Gurney)
10. Adonai Mah Adam- Jochsberger (Cantor: Osborne) / Shivisi- Sulzer (.mp3) or (.mov) / El Maleh Rachamim (Cantor: Gurney)
12. Unesane Tokef- Traditional (Cantor: Mizrahi)/ Uveshofar Gadolh- Herstik/Goldstein (based on motifs by Birnbaum) (Cantor: Mizrahi)
14. B'rosh Hashanah- Traditional (Cantor: Mendelson) (.mp3) or (.mov)
16. Oleinu- Shestapol
18. V'Hakohanim- Traditional arr. Schorr (Cantor: Mendelson)
20. Ki Anu Amecho- Traditional arr. Levine (Cantor: Mendelson)
22. Sh'ma No- Traditional arr. Nowakowsky (Cantor: Gurney) (.mp3) or (.mov) / Ono El No- Nowakowsky (Cantor: Medelson) / Chatanu L'fanecha (Cantor: Mizrahi)
24. Avinu Malkeinu- Traditional arr. Levine (Cantor: Mizrahi) (.mp3) or (.mov)
25. Shofar

[Narration tracks are 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23]

Price $14.95