Trager Trumpet Talktm.
presents
The Shofar and the Traditional Calls
copyright2002-all rights reserved
The Shofar is the ritual instrument of the ancient Israelites and the Jewish people of today. It is the only Hebrew cultural instrument to have survived until now.
Of martial origin, the shofar was a priestly instrument in Biblical times. According to the Mishna, two different forms of shofar were used in the Temple: one made of ibex horn.Its bell was ornamented with gold, and it was sounded at New Year and during the Yovel Days. Another type of shofar made of ram's horn, with silver ornamentation, was sounded on fast days. We learn from the Mishna and the Talmud that in the Hellenistic period no improvements or modifications that might affect the tone were permitted: no gold-plating of its interior, no plugging of holes, no alteration of its length (the minimum permissible length of a ritually approved horn is 3 handbreadths); the shofar tone was to be preserved unaltered. Steaming or boiling of the shofar is not permitted.
Apart from its liturgical uses the shofar was closely connected with magical symbolism.
Its blast destroyed the walls of Jericho, and in the Dead Sea scrolls we read that during battles shofar blowers sounded a powerful war cry to instill fear into the hearts of the enemy while priests blew the "six trumpets".
Today the shofar's use is restricted to New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Shofar calls
Tekiah: One long blast with a clear tone. The Tekiah has to be long enough to be equal to, or greater than the total length of the Shevarim and the Teruah.
Shevarim: A crying sound of three short calls.
Teruah: A rapid series of nine or more very short notes.
Tekiah Gedolah: "Great Tekiah," a single unbroken blast, held as long as possible.
The Tekiah Gedolah needs to be at least twice as long as the Tekiah.
If you would like to hear soundclips of me sounding the shofar, please click on the sidebar under members files.
The shofar sounds are listed as:
Tekiah wav.
Shevarim wav.
Teruah wav.
Tekiah Gedolah wav.
If you have any questions concerning the sounding of the shofar, please feel free to email me.
Sincerely,
Wayne
