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For Singers By Cheryl Frazes-Hoffman Highland Park High School Highland Park, Illinois 60035

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in Hebrew institutes including: Hebrew Union College, Jewish performing Jewish choral literature on programs other than Theological Seminary of America, Rabbinical Assembly, and within the Jewish Service. Academic training in higher the Central Conference of American Rabbis. [Contact the education usually neglects this area in both repertoire and author for more information on this article, Editor.] They proper performance. There are no set guidelines available for have formulated a specific sign for each sound (the ones pronouncing the that appear in the marked with an *) in the hope of having this become a univer­ literature, short of learning to read the actual and sally accepted some day soon. then having that Hebrew written in the music. Use the tools of this system as a beginning. They will Listed below is a system compiled by this writer that is assist conductors in a better understanding and will go based on selected, yet common, Jewish choral music. This beyond mere rote repetition. After attaining this level ofpro­ system includes a variety of ways one Hebrew sound may be nunciation, it is still recommended that conductors check transliterated. The phonetic symbols in the fourth column their work with a local cantor or rabbi, or a student who employ the International Phonetic symbols and reads Hebrew. To sing this repertoire in its original language .the stress mark, which precedes the stressed , as is to bring a new, yet vital, dimension to the growth of any used in Kenyon and Knott. A Pronouncing Dictionary To choir. The conductor's scholarly effort is certain to provide American English, (G & C Merriam Company, 1953). singers and listeners with a greater appreciation and A very helpful source has been an article on understanding of a special genre of choral music. compiled by a committee representing faculty from several

Vowels Bnglish English Transliteration IPA Spelling of vowel word of Hebrew symbols in transliteration

date r'tay r~te ay· 'shachbeynu bola-x' benu ey y'malel j~ ma.' lei e yivneh , j~ vne eh meiata meia..r tq. ei o home shovas / o,)/a.. s o· e eat me mi e mee mi ee

imrei , imre i· yihyu ji'jiu ih eh bed zuh zC eh /Ilo1okh 'm£IEX o· uu moon b'shuv bl1'/ uv u· neutral uh a cross between b'shuv barfuv any followed by pitand put an ah father hashomayim halofm«jim a· alsoah ahi night adonai Q,do'ne:ti ai uw bought. yi8roel jisr,)'el 0 (the uw Bound is out of dato) In order as they appear in the Hebrew alphabetand sounding in Hebrew as they would in English. b,g,d,h,z,.,y,k,l,m,s,p,f,r,v

The combinations ch, t.z, and , are also in tho Hebrew alphabet. as single consonants. In Engliah it is a combination of two for the one sound. ch uch chayey Xa.' jei hug Xa.g llUg X.:.tg t.z hit.s uret.s 'a rE ts t.7.Uri tsuJri Ilh Ilhulllllyim fu'ma.jilll

NOVEMBER 1981 Page 19