THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD
MUSIC AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
PART I: ROSH HASHANAH
PART II: YOM KIPPUR
Sung by The Western Wind
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
In this classic performance, Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble join forces to 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 in the Jewish liturgical tradition, performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Western Wind. Mr. Nimoy's timeless narration focuses on the universal themes of redemption and divine forgiveness.
"Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with outstanding cantors, this is an ideal High Holy Days service with a splendid narration by Leonard Nimoy, the performance is outstanding for the beauty of its artistry."-Hadassah Magazine
SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS
In 2008, Rosh Hashanah begins Monday night, September 29 and continues on September 30 and October 1. Yom Kippur which begins with the "Kol Nidre" service, starts just before sundown on Thursday night, October 9 and ends just after sundown on October 10.
It would be appropriate to play the Rosh Hashanah show (Birthday of the World, Part I) as early as 9/21 and up to 10/1 and to air the Yom Kippur show (Birthday of the World, Part II) from as early as 10/6 and through 10/10.
It is also appropriate to play both programs as a two-hour special anytime between September 30 and October 10.
More from William Zukof
O Beautiful! American Music
(00:58:50)
From: William Zukof
New American Music for Voices
A July 4th Special
O Beautiful/Rte.66
(00:02:40)
From: William Zukof
A great new version of "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies" brilliantly combined with Rte. 66. It's perfect for Obama's inauguration!!
The Passover Story
(00:58:27)
From: William Zukof
The Passover Story Sung by The Western Wind, Narrated by Theodore Bikel
My Funny Valentine , A Valentine's Day Special; Jazz and Pop A Cappella sung by The Western Wind...
(00:57:59)
From: William Zukof
A Jazz and Poetry Love Fest, Sung by The Western Wind, Poetry Read by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
Holiday Light: Singing Angels, Silver Bells
(00:58:23)
From: William Zukof
The Western Wind's Christmas Special, narrated by Roma Downey
The Birthday of The World, Part II: Yom Kippur
(00:59:32)
From: William Zukof
Music and Liturgy of Yom Kippur
Piece Description
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD MUSIC AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS PART I: ROSH HASHANAH PART II: YOM KIPPUR Sung by The Western Wind Narrated by Leonard Nimoy In this classic performance, Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble join forces to 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 in the Jewish liturgical tradition, performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Western Wind. Mr. Nimoy's timeless narration focuses on the universal themes of redemption and divine forgiveness. "Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with outstanding cantors, this is an ideal High Holy Days service with a splendid narration by Leonard Nimoy, the performance is outstanding for the beauty of its artistry."-Hadassah Magazine SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS In 2008, Rosh Hashanah begins Monday night, September 29 and continues on September 30 and October 1. Yom Kippur which begins with the "Kol Nidre" service, starts just before sundown on Thursday night, October 9 and ends just after sundown on October 10. It would be appropriate to play the Rosh Hashanah show (Birthday of the World, Part I) as early as 9/21 and up to 10/1 and to air the Yom Kippur show (Birthday of the World, Part II) from as early as 10/6 and through 10/10. It is also appropriate to play both programs as a two-hour special anytime between September 30 and October 10.
2 Comments
|
Review of The Birthday of The World Part I, Rosh HashanahI tend to like informative, informational programming and this piece was not only very informative but the content appealed to me because I celebrate the day which this hour presentation honors. The presentation of this program was done in a way that I believe others who do not celebrate or worship on this day would also appreciate. I would like to hear aired each year on Rosh Hashanah or even some time during the week before. And, I would say that it should be considered for airing in every public radio domain so that people of no or other religious beliefs can become cognizant with what God initially and originally instituted as days of annual worship. He gave this day and others to us through a people He called a peculiar and particular treasure to Himself. God does, nonetheless, explain how we have often fallen very short of the special calling, and yet Christ Himself still said while here on earth that ''Salvation IS of the Jews'' -- it being necessary as shown in Romans 11 that Gentiles, pictured as a wild olive tree, must be graffed into the Root and fatness of THE olive tree of CHRIST, called ''the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David'' in Revelation 5:5 -- the return of Whom and of His Kingdom being set up is pictured by this day -- in the depth of what this day means. SLG PS: In personal celebration of this day, I have to tell you that although I have never solely practiced the Jewish religion -- and did not know until very recently that my mother, who died in 2004, may have Jewish ancestry through a Duke of Kent going back to King David -- I have nonetheless celebrated and worshiped our Creator on this day for some thirty+plus years -- as (what some might call) a ''Jewish-Christian.'' |
Broadcast History
The Birthday of The World, Part I for Rosh Hashanah and Part II for Yom Kippur were originally created for PRI and were distributed for more than 10 years. They have been aired on major stations around the country such as WNYC, WHYY, WBEZ, and many more.
Transcript
The Birthday of The World
Music and traditions of The High Holy Days
Part I: Rosh Hashanah
sung by The Western Wind
narrated by Leonard Nimoy
Matthew Lazar, guest conductor
narration written by Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnik
Cantors: Alberto Mizrahi, Faith Steinsnyder Gurney,
Jacob Mendelson, Charles Osborne
The Western Wind: Phyllis Elaine Clark, Mary Ellen Callahan, sopranos
William Zukof, countertenor
Timothy Leigh Evans, Michael Steinberger, tenors
Elliot Z. Levine, baritone
with guest singers
Executive Producer: William Zukof
1 Rosh Hashanah Nusach 0:60 Traditional
arr: Matthew Lazar
2 Narration 2:04
3 Ma Tovu (Cantor: Osborne) 2:54
Louis Lewandowski (1821-1894)
4 Tik'u (Solos: Zukof, Clark) 1:06 Traditional
5 Narration 0:44
6 Shehecheyanu (Cantor: Mizrahi) 3:03 Meyer Machtenberg (1884-?)
7 Narration 0:37
8 Zochreinu 1:15 Folk Melody,...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Total Length: 58:51
There are two breaks with a music bed:
18:23 Break 1: Incue "Your are listening..." Outcue: "Leonard Nimoy" followed by a :28 second music bed from 18:32-19:00
36:39 Break 2: Incue "Your are listening..." Outcue: "Leonard Nimoy"
followed by a :38 second music bed from 36:50-37:28
Additional Files
- The Western Wind (westwind_white_crop.jpg)
- Leonard Nimoy Color Photo (nimoy_color_photo.jpg)
- Leonard Nimoy, B+W Photo (bw.jpg)
- B'Day I: 60 sec promo (Nimoy) (track03.mp2)
- B'Day I: 30 sec promo (Nimoy) (track02.mp2)
- B'DAY I 15 Sec Promo (track01.mp2)




Stephen L. Gilbreath
Posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:01 PM | Permalink
Love Those Ram-Horns!
I listened to this again this year. The choir and the ram-horns bring back the mood of celebration for the Creation that you are saying here that Rash Hashanah -- Feast of Trumpets) represents -- as well as representing the time when Christ will return (maybe you're thinking come the first time -- either way the world at first is not going to recognize Him as Christ when He does come next), but I'll stop there and thank you for this program again this year!
Five ram-horns up on this one! I know that everyone will not necessarily like it or find it meaningful -- but those ram-horns played so very well and alarmingly should certainly rouse anyway's attention. Love those Ram-Horns! No sleeping in services while those are played!