The instruments used in this piece are vocals, guitar, shofar and the bansuri flute. The lyrics being sung is taken out of the Kedusha, shacharit prayer for Shabbat and other Holidays.
This is a performance of the Yamma Ensemble performing a Jewish prayer with the oldest biblical wind instrument, the shofar. The shofar is the only biblical instrument that is still used in modern times exactly how it was used back in biblical time. The shofar is used as an ancient Jewish liturgical instrument, being made from a ram’s horn. The shofar is also known as a natural trumpet. It is actually rarely used as a musical instrument.
The use of the shofar in biblical music is believed by the Jewish faith to open up the gates of heaven, acting as the Jewish calling voice. The Shofar is related to forgiveness, and it’s played in every Israeli community during Rosh Hashanah, or the New Year. Rosh Hashanah is the time to shake out of spiritual slumber, re connect to the source, and recommit to the divine mission in the world. It’s’ considered a mitzvah, or commandment, to hear the Shofar played. In ancient Israel, it was used to announce the New Moon, or Rosh Chodesh, and call people together. It shows up in the bible during times of joy and war in the temple.
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