Daniel Halfon

https://youtu.be/GZahZiQR4Ak# Hanukkah - Mizmor Shir Hanukat Habayit Ledavid | London and New YorkImmediately after reciting Hanerot Hallalu, Psalm 30 is chanted using the ancient psalmodic mode presented here. According to some opinions, but not all, the connection between this psalm and the festival of Hanukkah stems from its superscription or title, which in their view refers to the dedication ...

https://youtu.be/cybYTGxtJ_8# Hanukkah - Hanerot Hallalu | New YorkIn the Spanish and Portuguese tradition, the Hanerot Hallalu formula is performed as a non-metric recitative, sung by the Hazzan while kindling the wicks of the Hannukia. The challenge for the Hazzan lies in synchronizing the chanting with the lighting so that both conclude at the same time. With the number of lights increasing as ...

[https://youtu.be/cybYTGxtJ_8](https://youtu.be/cybYTGxtJ_8?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0LngeJ2KA8oAvnyIXkZbGhUoeLwPWgxpuyP5EF9_yH6vZUqxav_3mu2Zg_aem_fDGlT9YKpOXDeEXIQ9beMw)## Hanukkah - Hanerot Hallalu | New YorkIn the Spanish and Portuguese tradition, the Hanerot Hallalu formula is performed as a non-metric recitative, sung by the Hazzan while kindling the wicks of the Hannukia. The challenge ...

https://youtu.be/8AnZylyhC9Q?si=Mxn8uln8NM_V3SfX# Hanukkah - Hadlakat Hanerot: Berakhot | LondonAs we approach Hanukkah, I would like to share a short series of videos focusing on the Hadlakat Hanerot. The first video is a recording of the two Berakhot recited before the lighting, with the addition of Shehecheyanu which is read on the first night. The style presented here reflects the musical trad...

https://youtu.be/s4fFglOb6_A# Hashem Malakh Ge'ut Labesh - Mendelssohn | LondonWe know little about how Charles Kensington Salaman happened upon the idea that the 32nd movement of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah would be a good fit as a setting for Psalm 93, Hashem Malakh. But fit it does, and admirably so.Although included in the United Synagogue's Blue Book, the piece is rarely sung in any of its ...

https://youtu.be/s4fFglOb6_A# Hashem Malakh Ge'ut Labesh - Mendelssohn | London We know little about how Charles Kensington Salaman happened upon the idea that the 32nd movement of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah would be a good fit as a setting for Psalm 93, Hashem Malakh. But fit it does, and admirably so.Although included in the United Synagogue's Blue Book, the piece is rarely sung in any of its...

https://youtu.be/pUZD9HXDKho# Tsur Mishelo Akhalnu | New YorkTsur Mishelo Akhalnu is sung as a Shabbat table song across pretty much the entire Jewish world. This despite the fact that it contains no direct reference to Shabbat, As I pointed out when I posted an Amsterdam melody for this Piyyut, the themes it expresses closely parallel the content and structure of the Birkat Hamazon. So much so, t...

https://youtu.be/pUZD9HXDKho# Tsur Mishelo Akhalnu | New YorkTsur Mishelo Akhalnu is sung as a Shabbat table song across pretty much the entire Jewish world. This despite the fact that it contains no direct reference to Shabbat, As I pointed out when I posted an Amsterdam melody for this Piyyut, the themes it expresses closely parallel the content and structure of the Birkat Hamazon. So much so, t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SeO2zh6NM# Nakdishakh (Baroque) | AmsterdamThe Portuguese community of Amsterdam has some truly remarkable music in its repertoire. The present recording is based on a transcription of a melody for Nakdishakh sung on the Shalosh Regalim taken from the David Ricardo collection published in 1975. The piece was likely written in the 18th century and, as with other co...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SeO2zh6NM# Nakdishakh (Baroque) | AmsterdamThe Portuguese community of Amsterdam has some truly remarkable music in its repertoire. The present recording is based on a transcription of a melody for Nakdishakh sung on the Shalosh Regalim taken from the David Ricardo collection published in 1975. The piece was likely written in the 18th century and, as with other co...

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvd3h2QBHjxSILgmvLSJmfYKvMNo6Xkfa# Playlist of melodies for Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and Simchat Torah36 Spanish and Portuguese selections associated with Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and SImchat Torah, including melodies for Kaddish, Kedusha, Yigdal, Hallel, Hosha’anot, Tikun Geshem and more.מועדים לשמחה ותזכו לשנים רבות

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvd3h2QBHjxSILgmvLSJmfYKvMNo6Xkfa# Playlist of melodies for Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and Simchat Torah36 Spanish and Portuguese selections associated with Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and SImchat Torah, including melodies for Kaddish, Kedusha, Yigdal, Hallel, Hosha’anot, Tikun Geshem and more.מועדים לשמחה ותזכו לשנים רבות

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvd3h2QBHjxSILgmvLSJmfYKvMNo6Xkfa# Playlist of melodies for Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and SImchat Torah36 Spanish and Portuguese selections associated with Sukkot, Shemini Atseret and SImchat Torah, including melodies for Kaddish, Kedusha, Yigdal, Hallel, Hosha’anot, Tikun Geshem and more.מועדים לשמחה ותזכו לשנים רבות

https://youtu.be/dkX3B7e6ydI# Yigdal Elohim Chai - Sukkot | New York Despite the obvious similarities between the New York and London iterations of the Spanish and Portuguese tradition, there are notable differences. One of these is the fact that in New York, unlike London, each of the Shalosh Regalim have unique melodies associated with them that are applied to particular selections - such as the...

https://youtu.be/dkX3B7e6ydI# Yigdal Elohim Chai - Sukkot | New York Despite the obvious similarities between the New York and London iterations of the Spanish and Portuguese tradition, there are notable differences. One of these is the fact that in New York, unlike London, each of the Shalosh Regalim have unique melodies associated with them that are applied to particular selections - such as the...

https://youtu.be/w1ZMIUvK_hE# Yah Shema Ebyonekha | London This Piyyut was written by Yehudah Halevi (1075–1141) as an introduction to the Selichot for the Minchah of Yom Kippur. In addition to the refrain it has five stanzas, which form the acrostic Y(e)HUD(a)H. For many, the singing of Yah Shema Ebyonekha represents an emotional turning point in the Tefilah of Yom Kippur, conferring a palpable s...

https://youtu.be/w1ZMIUvK_hE# Yah Shema Ebyonekha | London This Piyyut was written by Yehudah Halevi (1075–1141) as an introduction to the Selichot for the Minchah of Yom Kippur. In addition to the refrain it has five stanzas, which form the acrostic Y(e)HUD(a)H. For many, the singing of Yah Shema Ebyonekha represents an emotional turning point in the Tefilah of Yom Kippur, conferring a palpable s...

https://youtu.be/39KftMfWCts# Atanu Lechalot Panecha | LondonTwo stanzas of this ancient Piyyut have survived in the Sephardi rite and are sung during the penitential prayers (Selichot) on the days leading up to Yom Kippur, and on Yom Kippur itself as an introduction to the Hazzan’s repetition of the Amidah in Musaf and Ne'ilah.Among the Edot Hamizrach and many communities of North African provena...

https://youtu.be/39KftMfWCts# Atanu Lechalot Panecha | LondonTwo stanzas of this ancient Piyyut have survived in the Sephardi rite and are sung during the penitential prayers (Selichot) on the days leading up to Yom Kippur, and on Yom Kippur itself as an introduction to the Hazzan’s repetition of the Amidah in Musaf and Ne'ilah.Among the Edot Hamizrach and many communities of North African provena...

https://youtu.be/A1IVUxBqPKI# Elohim Eli Atah | London and New York Elohim Eli Atah, written as a Reshut to Nishmat Kol Chai by Shelomo Ibn Gabirol, is sung during Shachrit on Yom Kippur. Its 30 strophes take the form of an acrostic spelling out the full name of the Paytan ."אני שלמה הקטן ברבי יהודה אבן גבירול חזק"The construction of the Piyyut is fairly intricate. Each strophe is divided into two...

https://youtu.be/2gWSUMgVCnA?si=bzOGiT9VT4_oUQ6C# Barekhu - Yamim Nora'im | London & New York In the Spanish and Portuguese tradition the melody for Barekhu sung during Shachrit and Arbit on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a powerful and exquisitely elaborated variant of the Yedei Rashim chant, one of the musical mainstays of the penitential period. When and how this majestic derivative evolved is...

https://youtu.be/2gWSUMgVCnA?si=bzOGiT9VT4_oUQ6C# Barekhu - Yamim Nora'im | London & New York In the Spanish and Portuguese tradition the melody for Barekhu sung during Shachrit and Arbit on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a powerful and exquisitely elaborated variant of the Yedei Rashim chant, one of the musical mainstays of the penitential period. When and how this majestic derivative evolved is...

https://youtu.be/WVWzNGD7DmI# Adon Olam - Aseret Yemei Teshubah | LondonAs with all Spanish and Portuguese communities, the London melody for Adon Olam during the Aseret Yemei Teshubah is based on the ‘Yedei Rashim’ Lachan. The London variant, however, differs markedly from both the New York and Amsterdam versions by introducing a modulation in the third bar, where it remains until reverting to th...

https://youtu.be/WVWzNGD7DmI# Adon Olam - Aseret Yemei Teshubah | LondonAs with all Spanish and Portuguese communities, the London melody for Adon Olam during the Aseret Yemei Teshubah is based on the ‘Yedei Rashim’ Lachan. The London variant, however, differs markedly from both the New York and Amsterdam versions by introducing a modulation in the third bar, where it remains until reverting to th...

https://youtu.be/ZDLw6WN3pi4?si=pfGn3RFcfLSNivvI# Tehilat (Birkat Hamazon) Aseret Yemei Teshubah | AmsterdamThe 'Yedei Rashim' Lachan is one of the most well known musical hallmarks in the Spanish and Portuguese repertoire for the month of Elul and the Aseret Yemei Teshubah.In addition to serving as the setting for the Piyyutim sung before Yotser during Shachrit on Rosh Hashanah and Kippur, it is ...