L'kha Dodi (Tedesco)

Cantor Azi Schwartz

[Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday evening service] L’kha dodi likrat kallah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah. *Shamor v’zakhor b’dibur ehad, hishmi·anu eil ham’yuhad. Adonai ehad ush’mo ehad, l’shem ul’tiferet v’lit’hilah. L’kha . . . Likrat Shabbat l’khu v’nelkhah, ki hi m’kor ha-b’rakhah. Mei-rosh mi-kedem n’sukhah, sof ma·aseh b’mahashavah t’hilah. L’kha . . . Mikdash melekh ir m’lukhah, kumi tz’i mi-tokh hahafeikhah. Rav lakh shevet b’emek ha-bakhah, v’hu yahamol alayikh hemlah. L’kha . . . Hitna·ari mei-afar kumi, livshi bigdei tifartekh ami. Al yad ben yishai beit ha-lahmi, korvah el nafshi ge·ala. L’kha . . . *Hitoreri hitoreri, ki va orekh kumi ori. Uri uri shir dabeiri, k’vod Adonai alayikh niglah. L’kha . . . Lo teivoshi v’lo tikalmi, ma tishtohahi u-mah tehemi, Bakh yehesu aniyei ami v’nivn’ta ir al tila. L’kha . . . V’hayu limshisah shosayikh, v’rahaku kol m’valayikh. Yasis alayikh elohayikh, kimsos hatan al kallah. L’kha . . . Yamin u-smol tifrotzi, v’et Adonai ta·aritzi. Al yad ish ben partzi, v’nism’hah v’nagilah. L’kha . . . *Bo·i v’shalom ateret ba·alah, gam b’simhah uv’tzoholah. Tokh emunei am s’gulah, bo’i khalah, bo·i khallah. L’kha . . . Come my beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome Shabbat. *“Observe” and “remember”were uttered as one; so we heard it from the singular One. God is one and God’s name is one, reflected in fame, in splendor, and in praise. Come . . . Shrine of our sovereign, royal city, rise up from destruction and fear no more. End your dwelling in the tear-filled valley, for with God’s compassion you will be upraised. Come . . . Awake! Rise up from the dust! Dress yourself in this people’s pride. By the hand of Jesse’s son, of Bethlehem’s tribe bring my redemption without further delays. Come . . . *Rouse yourself, rouse yourself, for your lamp is lit; let the flame rise up and glow. Awake awake, utter songs of praise, for God’s glory is revealed to your gaze. Come . . . Do not be embarrassed, do not be ashamed. Why are you downcast? Why do you moan? The poorest of your people, trust in this: the city will be rebuilt as in ancient days. Come . . . Your despoilers shall be despoiled, your tormentors removed far away. God and you will celebrate together, a bride and groom in joyful embrace. Come . . . You will spread out to the left and the right, acclaiming Adonai our God with delight. Redeemed by the scion of Peretz’s line, we shall joyously chant songs of praise. Come . . . *Come in peace, crown your spouse, surrounded by gladness and joyous shouts. Come to the faithful, the people You treasure with pride, come, my bride; come my bride. Come . . . from L'dor Vador, releases October 10, 2016 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895–1968) Born in Florence, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was descended from a prominent Jewish banking family that had lived in the city since the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. He was one of the foremost guitar composers of the twentieth century, with almost one hundred compositions for that instrument. After immigrating to the US in 1939, he worked for MGM Studios for fifteen years, composing scores for some 200 Hollywood movies as well as becoming a significant influence on other major film composers, including Henry Mancini, André Previn, and John Williams. He also wrote concertos for Jascha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky as well as several operas. His work was inspired by great literature and also by his Jewish heritage, most notably the Bible and Jewish liturgy.