Re: FW: selichot music

[Cantor Neil & Katie Schwartz <schwartz...>]

>
>     Any suggestions for opening and closing music for selichot services?
>Anyone's input would be so appreciated!
>

In a traditional Slichot service, the Ashrei is chanted in a quiet minor
key (NOT the Shabbat morning responsive tune!), and the service is ended
with Yigdal chanted in the special High Holy Days melody.  While it may
be nice to open with a song before Ashrei, Yigdal makes a good ending by
itself.  Avinu Malkeinu is contained within the Slichot service, but it
can also be used as an opening (and a closing, if desired) in addition.

By the way, the mode used for the special HHD Yigdal is the same as used
by the traditional Avinu Malkeinu.  It's called "Ahavah Rabbah", but for
non-cantorial consumption I refer to it as the "Hava Nagila" mode.  It is
built on a modified Phrygian scale (all the white keys E - E) with a flat
2nd and a sharp 3rd ( E - F - G# - A - B - C - D - E ).  My copy of the
book "Zamru Lo" is at the shul and I am at home, but I will look there to
see if the special Yigdal is printed in Volume 3 (available thru Tara).

                                                    Cantor Neil Schwartz