The Shofar
Note Caller
Arthur
L. Finkle
Someone asked me a simple
but often overlooked question regarding the function of the reciter of the
notes voiced for the Shofar Sounder. In Hebrew, the reader is called the
‘Makri’; the Shofar Sounder the ‘Baal Tekiah’.
The obvious questions are
why does the Shofar Sounder just play the note. Why does the Shofar Sounder
need a reciter?
The Code of Jewish Law,
written in 1565, cites the Makri at 585:4. Its reasoning is, in order to lift
the burden and not to confuse Baal Tekiah as to the sequence of the notes; the
Reader makes sure that the Shofar Sounder plays the correct notes in the
correct sequence.
Now for the practical part.
The Reader usually is the Cantor. It is imperative for the Shofar Sounder and
the Reader to rehearse so that they can get a sense of the cadence to be used
on the service, itself. There is nothing more annoying for the Shofar Sounder
to be ahead or behind the Reader.
The calling of the note
before the Shofar Sounder plays also brings a solemnity to the shofar
experience.
May all have a blessed happy
and healthy New Year!
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