El melekh yoshev (El Meleh)

The Thirteen Attributes of God, a passage from the Torah (Exodus) preceded by additional verses, comprise a textual unit that serves as a kind of refrain in the seliḥot services according to the Sephardi rite. Haim performs this piece almost without accompaniment in the very traditional, declamative style that distinguishes the performance of this text in Eastern Sephardi synagogues. The piece ends with an extended (almost one minute long), virtuoso melismatic improvisation without text, inappropriate for the original liturgical context of this piece, probably because of the necessity to complete the side of the record. A kanun solo is added; the player (called Haim too) is introduced by the singer.