Ma’oz Tzur
FOR SATB CHOIR AND PIANO
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- SATB with piano, 8 pages
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This well-known, traditional song for Hanukkah is presented here in an arrangement for choir with a dramatic piano accompaniment.
One verse is given in in Hebrew and two in English.
The second English verse is the translation of the Hebrew.
This arrangement may work well a capella, without piano. Include it in your caroling packet. It would make a nice solo piece as well.
Several web sites, including the wikipedia page for Ma’oz Tzur, have more verses, translations, pronunciations, and interesting historical background material.
Measures 1 – 8 may be done with small groups instead of solos; or with one, or more, each soprano, alto, tenor, and bass adding every 2 bars. Or one solo may sing it all.
The apostrophe ‘ as in Y’, L’, and t’ sounds like a soft “ih” or schwa.
There are many spellings for Hebrew transliterations.
This arrangement may work well a capella, without piano. Include it in your caroling packet.
Lyrics:
Maoz tzur y’shuati
L’cha naeh l’shabeyach,
Tikon beyt t’filati,
V’sham toda n’zabeyach.
L’eyt tachin matbeyach
mitzar ham’nabeyach,
Az egmor b’shir mizmor,
hanukat hamizbeyach.
Az egmor, b’shir mizmor
Chanukat hamizbeyach.
Children of the wanderers
whether free or fettered
wake the echoes of the songs
Where you may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering
That the time is nearing
Which will see all men free
Tyrants disappearing.
Which will see all men free
Tyrants disappearing.
Rock of ages, let our song
Praise your saving power.
You amid the raging foes
Were our shelt’ring tower.
Furious they assailed us
But your arm availed us.
And your word broke their sword
When our own strength failed us.
And your word broke their sword
when our own strength failed us.