[HANASHIR:3891] Pronunciation for verses in Dror Yikra

[Steve Greenberg <SIG...>]

Hello all,

I'm in a community GLBT (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender) chorus in the
Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul).  We've just received a grant from the
Minneapolis Federation (the Howard B. Brin Jewish Arts Endowment, a
designated endowment of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Minneapolis
Jewish Federation) toward our performing Dror Yikrah in Hebrew at our next
concerts (February 5&6, 2000).

This arrangement is a medley of 3 Sephardic versions of the song by Israeli
composer Yekhezkel Braun (the versions are from Turkey, Yemen, and
Jerusalem).  We begin rehearsals this month.

The concern here is that we memorize all our music and lyrics, and I'd like
to make the Hebrew memorization as painless as possible.  Two questions:

1)  What is the reasoning for and/or against people singing "elohim" or
"elokim"?  From my sensibilities, I would think we should say "elokim" in
concert, but if we sing at a synagogue during a shabbat service (which we
plan to do), the "k" should be replaced with the "h".  The problem is that I
don't want to ask people to memorize and understand both ways.  Can we get
away with "h" all the time?

2)  I've spoken to David Harris (St. Paul maven on Sephardic music) about
the correct pronunciation, since it could be presumed that each of the three
locations (Turkey, Yemen, Jerusalem) would have varying pronunciations.
Again, I don't want to have people gettting confused with more than one way
to say each word, and I wanted to keep it simple.

So, David suggested the one way we're sure to know how to pronounce the
words is if we used the Hebrew pronunciation that Yekhezkel Braun would
speak, being a modern Israeli.

The question I have is what to do with the pronunciation of the reish "r"
being sung.  I've heard two ways of pronouncing it in song:  one has it
sounding similar to a French "r" as in "rue".  The other has it sounding
like the sound you would hear if you were going to trill/roll a bunch of
r's, but then only use the "first r" you uttered.  I think the latter is
easiest to sing, but again, wonder which is "more appropriate".

If you have any knowledge about this, please let me know.  And since we're
talking pronunciation, if it would be easier to tell me (rather than
writing), please give me a phone number to reach you.

Thanks in advance for any help or ideas,
Steve Greenberg
Co-chair, One Voice Mixed Chorus, Minneapolis/St. Paul

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