New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31

Moses. It has survived because of a sanctity at
taching to it. though metal trunpets known
20 the Hebrews in the earliest historical times
spoken OF in the Bible It is made of a rams
antelopes horn slightly hattened Nothing is done
10 perfect musical quality beyond occasional
mounting OF its mouthpiece with gold or silver. but
Il is sometimes decorated with beautiful exterior
carved inscriptions picture Of group of shofars
reprinted this page spares the need Of further
description. No. in the group illustrates the
Of inscriptions ornament. 1t is instrument
of unknown age. which found about a quarter
Of a century ago near Dessau. in Germany. It
bears two Inscriptions One is the thirteenth
OF the twentyscventh chapter of Isaiah. The other
is transcript Of the blessings which it was is
customary for the performers upon the instrument
TO recite when taking it up use. viz: Blessed
art Thou, Lord, God. King of the Universe
who hast sanctihed with His commandments and
commanded US to hear the sound Of the shofar
Blessed art Thou. Lord. God. King of the
Universe. who hast caused live. and preserved
Us, and caused us 10 reach this time" So much
for the instrument itself.
1t does not appear from study of the Biblical
references the shofar the words of ancient
Hebrew commentators that the use of the shofar
made by Mr. Elgar has any other sanction than
poetic license. The beauty Of the scene in which
he employs il and the touch Of local color which
il gives 10 his music must be its only Justification
II is the second scene Of the first part OF his
Oratorio and the picture which the listener ought
10 invoke in his fancy like this: Jesus has
all night alone. He had gone ''out into a mountain
TO pray and continued all night in prayer TO God"
He is seeking help and comfort in His purpose to
send out Apostles to spread abroad His teachings.
and has heard the assuring voice Of the angel
Gabriel. Morning is about break and there will
be change Of guard when the signal is heard.
There are watchers the roof Of the temple with
in whose walls preparations are making for the
morning service. Suddenly the sound Of the shofar
Is heard in the distance and the watchers pro-
claim the rising OF the at shines," The gates
are thrown open with clang and the shofar is
heard again.
The face OF all the East is now ablaze with light;
the dawn reacheth even unto Hebronl
proclaim the watchers. ana Immediately, with the
smoke OF the sacrifice. arises the morning hymn
from within the temple. The temple choristers
sing the nnety-second Psalm. "A psalm or song
Tor the Sabbath day.:
and 10 sing praises unto Thy name. o Most High:
To shew forth Thy loving kindness in the morning,
and Thy feithulness every night.
Upon the psaltery:
upon the harp with a solemn sound.
For Thou. Lord hast made glad through Thy
viii triumph in the works OF Thy hands
For, 10. Thine enemies. Lord. shall perish:
ell the workers OF iniGuity shall be scattered
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon
Day IS come. Christ calls His disciples about
Him. chooses the twelve to be His Apostles pro-
Claims their commission ana an angelic voice blends
with the apostolic acceptance in supplcation Look
down from heaven o God. and behold and visit
this vine"
This is the incident which Dr. EIgar has clothed
with music which invites description and study as
much for its antiquarian elements its beauty.
The use Of the shofar to announce the dawn of an
ordinary Sabbath seems TO be wholly arbitrary. The
rams horn trumpet was employed chiefly for warn
ings OF large portent and only occasions OF the
gravest solennity The first day OF the seventh
rl,,
paramount importance. for II was the memorial
OF blowing instituted by Moses This feast ''Yom
teruall." is blended with the feast Of the New
Yesr-"ROsh hashonah." once in seven times seven
years on the Day OF Atonement it was blown to
announce the great year Of release. Its frequent
use seems TO have been occasoned only by wars
danger OF national disaster. Cyrus Adler quotes
nineteen passages from the writings the prophets
in which the shofar denotes war
According 10 the liturgy Of the German and
Polish Jews in use to-day. there are ten reasons
FOR sounding the shofar on the feast OF New Year
Or Cyrus Adler sets them forth at considerable
length in his report the shofar written for the
Report OF the United States National Museum for
1882 Briefly pat. the reasons are: First because
the Gay IS the anniversary OF the creation OF the
world and God Is 70 be proclaimed as Creator ana
KING, as earthly kings are proclaimed by the trum-
pet 81 their coronation: second as an admonition
10 repentance. the New Year being the first az the
ten psnitental days; third as a memorial of the
law given on Mount Sinai when there we're .l,,,
Ns.s uHc -Bhtn1uss, ana n thick cloud uDon the
nionnt and the voice OF the trumpet (shofar) ex-
ceeding loud 50 that ali the people that we're IN the
camp tremble6" fourth. as a reminder ~ TIE
prophets who, In Ezekiel xxxii 4 are eompares
70 Natchinen blowing their trrmpefs; afth as a
reminder OF the destruction OF the Holy Ternple
ana the noise made by the enemy Jeremiah Nv ~,
and A prayer for its restoration: sixth as rs
minoer or the willingness Of Isaac 10 be sacrificed:
seventh, as sign OF fear and willing and humble
submission 10 God: Shall a shofar be blown Ia the
CITY anc the people not be afraid,' (Amos M. 81;