Keter

Keter

Performed by Reverend Abraham Lopes Cardozo



The qeddushah for the Mussaf (Additional) Service of the Sabbath is, like its counterpart in the morning prayers (see above no. 14), adorned with old and new melodies. The present piece is another composition by hazzan Simon Duque (see no, 2 above). It shows the influence of 19th century Ashkenazi cantorial music on this hazzan and composer.

Upon arrival to New York City, Rev. Lopes Cardozo tried to introduce this melody to his new synagogue, but he was asked by Captain Naftali Taylor Philips, a Past President of the community, not to sing it and, in general, not to introduce changes in the local music customs.

Not all the sections of this composition are newly composed. The sections le'umatam and mimeqomo are, according to Rev. Lopes Cardozo, part of a traditional Portuguese tune for this text. In this recording there is an attempt to represent the congregational responses (such as qaddosh, qaddosh, qaddosh, 'Holy, holy, holy') by the piano.

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