Shofar

What it means

The shofar is a wind instrument made from the horn of a ram or another kosher animal, hollowed out and opened at the tip. It has no finger holes, keys, or valves; the sound arises solely through the vibrating lips at the narrow end. Only a few natural notes are therefore available, usually two or three, whose exact pitch depends on the individual horn, because every piece has grown differently. The sound is rough, rich in overtones, and penetrating.

Musical use

The shofar is primarily a ritual instrument of Judaism and is blown above all on the High Holy Days, especially on Rosh Hashanah and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. The signals follow fixed forms with their own names and differ in the length and organization of the notes; their execution is regulated by religious rules and not left to musical discretion. Outside this context, the sound occasionally appears in concert music as a quotation. Whoever writes or speaks about it should keep the ritual meaning in view and not reduce the instrument to a sound effect.

Performance practice

It is blown with firmly tensed lips at the narrow end; since there is no mouthpiece, the player forms the embouchure surface themselves. The available notes can only be reached through lip tension, and switching between them demands practice. Reckon with the fact that every horn responds differently — an instrument that works well for one player can be difficult for another. Keep the horn clean and dry and let it air out after use. The execution of the signals is passed on within the respective community.

Bear in mind that the execution is bound to religious rules: the number, length, and organization of the notes are fixed, and responsibility for this lies with the community. Whoever takes on this task learns it there and not from general literature. For preparation it holds to practise the embouchure regularly, because the instrument, having no mouthpiece, demands much lip tension. Check the horn beforehand for cracks, since they make the tone impossible. Outside the ritual context, restraint is appropriate.