Kiddush (Kurt Weill)

As I prepare for a quiet summer Shabbat, I’m excited to share with you this piece which fascinates me both musically and historically.
Kurt Weill (1900-1950), one of America’s most influential composers, was born and raised in a religious Jewish family in Dessau, Germany. As the Nazis came into power in 1933, he fled to Paris and later immigrated to America. Kiddush by Kurt Weill was the first synagogue piece
to be written in an American popular style and is an amalgam of Germanic stolidity, American blues, and Broadway pop harmony. It was commissioned by Park Avenue Synagogue and premiered in 1946.
Weill dedicated this piece to his father, Albert Weill, who was a cantor.
This recording was made in Berlin and is included in the album Heritage, featuring treasures of Jewish-German composers.

With RIAS Kammerchor
Colin Fowler, Music Director
Justin Doyle, Conductor
Program notes: Dr. Anat Rubinstein
Recording Producer: Florian B. Schmidt
Video Editing: Tami Shaham
Special thanks to Eli Grunfeld


www.azischwartz.com

Lyrics

Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us through His commandments
Lovingly You have favored us with the gift of your Holy Shabbat
And has taken delight in us.
Out of love and with favor You have given us the holy Sabbath
As our inheritance, in remembrance of Your creation,
First among the sacred days
Which recall the Exodus from Egypt.
You have chosen us of all peoples for Your service,
And You have given us a sacred purpose in life.
In loving favor, You have given us
Your holy Shabbat as a heritage.
Praise are You, O Lord, who hallows the Shabbat.

[Friday evening]

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ
וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם
כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים
וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשֶׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת

Barukh atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, borei p'ri ha-gafen.
Barukh atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
asher kid'shanu b'mitsvotav v-ratsa vanu,
ve-shabat kodsho be-ahava uv-ratson hinhilanu,
zikaron le-ma’aseh v'reishit, t'hila le-mikra’ei kodesh, zekher li-y’tsi’at Mitsra’yim.
Ki vanu vaharta ve-otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim, ve-Shabat kodsh'kha b'ahava uv-ratson hinhaltanu.
Barukh atah Adonai, m’kadesh ha-Shabat.