’Adon ‘Olàm אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם

MIDI Files:

Piece
Soprano
Alto 1 Melody
Alto 2
Tenor 1
Tenor 2

Among Jewish liturgical texts, אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם Adon Olam stands out in the regularity of its square (iambic tetrameter) rhythm, which has inspired a record number of melodic treatments. This traditional melody is one of the more festive tunes to which the poem is sung, making it particularly suited for the High Holidays. It's a song memorable and familiar enough that everyone likes to sing along. This arrangement follows the tradition in Gan HaLev of echoing the first section's main motif two beats later, and extends the technique to the main motif in the second section. A climbing harmony gives direction to the third, wavering motif appearing in both sections. The tenors duplicate the altos, echoes and all, with parallel sixths in the A section, and with inverted motifs in the B section. As if in answer to the reference to calling the heavenly name at the end of the first verse, the soprano comes soaring majestically in at the beginning of the second verse, the other voices tumbling far below.

The entire poem is 5 stanzas long, and with this melody the verses alternate between the A and B sections of the song. For variety, have just the altos sing the A section on verse 1, just the first alto and first tenor sing section A on verse 3, and all four voices on verse 5. Section B is ordinarily only sung twice, but also works well with (soprano plus) just altos or just first alto and first tenor. Musically, this arrangement can finish at the end of either section. In an instrumental arrangement, brass instruments are ideal for capturing the majestic mood of the piece. Although the soprano part is high enough above the others that it stands out even with another brass instrument (such as a cornet), a contrasting timbre, such as a clarinet, also works well for the soprano.

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