by MARY BONIN (Soprano)
The programme of Jewish music presented by Miss Mary Bonin is divided into two sections-of which the first comprises three specimens of Jewish Prayer Book music, and the second illustrates modern popular songs, current especially in Palestine, where Hebrew today is the spoken language of the Jews.
Yigdal is a poem of the thirteenth century consisting of 13 lines, each one of which sets forth one of the Thirteen Principles of the Faith, which had been formulated a short time previously by the famous scholar and philosopher,
Moses Maimonides of Spain. It is chanted in Synagogue.
Psahn 114 forms part of the Synagogue ritual called the Hallel or Psalms of Praise chanted on Festivals.
The Adon Olam, like the Yigdal, is a poem whose verse form is based upon Arabic models and is as old as the ninth or tenth century.
The Polka Chaluzith (the Pioneers' Polka) and the Na-aleh (' Let us go up to our Land ') are some of the many products of the Zionist movement in Palestine, where Hebrew is the vetnacular.
Eli, Eli is usually sung in Jiidisch and is very popular. It gives voice to the cry of the people of Israel in their distress and declares that they will ever remain faithful to their religion.