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Happy Purim!
Purim starts Wednesday night – it is easily the oddest Jewish festival. One of our merry quartet composed new music to the traditional poem, creating a fun ditty, in 4 part harmony, which we recorded this week. I admit that I probably enjoyed doing the video more than I should have – looking ridiculous is a key part of Purim.
You can get an idea of the sense of whimsy and irony when you consider the video and its meaning together.
The words to this poem, translated, are:
Published in General“The rose [that is] Yaakov was cheerful and glad, when they saw together the royal blue [robes] of Mordechai.
You have been their salvation eternally, and their hope throughout generation after generation,
To make known that all those who put their hope in You will not be shamed; and they will never be humiliated- all those who take refuge in You.
Accursed be Haman, who sought to destroy me;
Blessed be Mordechai the Jew.
Accursed be Zeresh, the wife of my terrorizer;
Blessed be Esther, who shielded me.
And also may Charvona be remembered for good.”
Marvelous!
You guys are too cute! And the token glass of wine, of course. Thank you–such fun! Happy Purim, @iwe.
The bass does not look like he’s enjoying himself… Must be the straight man.
I thought exactly the same!! Maybe he was unfamiliar with the tune or the words. Also, did you see the quilt in the background–guess who made it! (No, not @iwe . . . )
We were watching the screen and I kept laughing precisely because of how serious he looks. The perfect straight man.
The bass is actually a very funny guy, partially because of his ability to never crack a smile.
Absolutely delightful. ;)
I did notice! Gorgeous!! However, shouldn’t it be a six-pointed star? ;-)
Nah. The so-called Star of David was a zionist plot to dethrone the Menorah as the main symbol of the Jewish state. The Arabs have accused the Jews of stealing the geometric six-pointed star, and they are right. We also stole hummous and schwarma from the Arabs – but in those case, we improved both foods, so that is OK.
Very nice! Mr. Podkayne is a huge fan of acapella and will definitely enjoy this.
Modzitz as rendered by Ben Zion Shenker, of blessed memory, remains my gold standard for this particular hymn. The leaders of Modzitz hassidism were all composers, and I have been on a Modzitz bender for the past several months.
The soloist in this piece is also the composer. He is a Modtzizter, and was a good friend of BenZion. In our own shul (in my house), he writes, in the Modzitz tradition, a new melody for Kaddish Tiskabal every yomim noraim.
Our choir sings the best Modzitz choral melodies as well. But it was neat to do something new. BenZion would have approved.
I’m intrigued to hear that ridiculousness is part of the festival, as I have long found the Esther story behind the festival funny in its irony over who gets exalted and who gets executed.
In many musical groups I know (particularly Christian gospel men’s quartets) the bass (or tuba player in brass groups) is the overt comedian, so nice to see an inversion of roles.
We came by it naturally.
That was hysterical! Thank you! And then he put the hamantaschen back. Yech!
Is there a reason that only the lead singer gets to drink wine during the singing (though I notice he’s not actually drinking much)?
I’ve heard that old Vaudevillians used to say that it took more talent to be the straight man than the comedian for precisely that reason: a good straight man had to keep a straight face, and feign a whole range of emotions such as frustration and anger, while everyone else in the building was roaring with laughter.
Yes! I was going to comment on the same thing, as I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Gorgeous. She does amazing work.
A joyful Purim to you all!
And itching without the benefit of scratching to Haman!
Happy Purim! Esther has always been one of my heroes. She was a true role model.