New CD of Yom Tov Niggunim

NEW CHABAD MUSIC CD BEAUTIFULLY TEACHES THE NIGGUNIM OF THE RABBEIM SUNG AT THE CONCLUSION OF YOMIM TOVIM

Just in time for Shavous, the much anticipated follow-up to the highly acclaimed Chabad piano albums “Totally Chassidic” and “A niggun is Forever” by master pianist and musician Yaron Gershovsky, “Yom Tov Farbrengen” (now live on iTunes) covers the magnificent melodies of the Rebbes of Chabad as sung at Farbrengen at the conclusion of Rosh Hashana, Simchat Torah, Pesach, and Shavuos. Produced by Zalman Goldstein of “Chabad Classics” fame, the solo piano album features the following order of niggunim:

1. SHOLOSH T’NUOS — The Baal Shem Tov, Mezritcher Maggid, Alter Rebbe
2. KELI ATOH — The Alter Rebbe
3. KAPELYE — The Mitteler Rebbe
4. Y’MIN HASHEM — The Tzemach Tzedek
5. L’CHATCHILA ARIBER — The Rebbe Maharash
6. NIGGUN HACHONO — The Rebbe Rashab
7. BEINUNI — The Frierdiker Rebbe
8. ATOH V’CHARTONU — The Rebbe
9. NIGGUN DALED BOVOS — The Alter Rebbe
10. NYE ZHERITZI CHLOPTZI — Traditional Chassidic

“Very lovely!” said Prof. Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, Composer-pianist, music dept., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, after hearing the CD. Prof. Rudolph has had private Yechidusen with the Rebbe in the 1980’s and received specific guidance about the performance of Chabad niggunim. “I like the understated way the niggunim are played, which is refined and not showy. Very much in keeping with the dveikus atmosphere; even in the fast ones. Kol Hakavod for such beautiful music!”

On the origin of the custom to sing the niggunei rabbeinu n’sieinu at the conclusion of Yom Tov, producer Zalman Goldstein shares the following: “At the main Farbrengen on the second day of Rosh Hashana 5715 (1954), the Rebbe related the following: ‘My father-in-law [the previous Rebbe] related in a talk that his father [the Rebbe Rashab] would reference all the Rebbes of Chabad during the two days of Rosh Hashana, either by sharing a word of Torah that they taught or by relating a story about them. In another talk the [previous] Rebbe said that when one sings a song that another composed, cherished, or was very attached to, the singer connects with the soul of that person in an attachment deeper than achieved through intellect alone. We should therefore sing a niggun (song) from each of the Rebbes, one they either composed or cherished.’ Chassidim extend this custom to include Farbrengen at the conclusion of Simchat Torah, Pesach, and Shavuot. The niggunim Daled Bovos (Track 9) and Nye Zheritzi Chloptzi (Track 10) were sung at the conclusion of all major Farbrengen and are customarily preceded by the Niggun Hachono (Track 06).”

The 40+ minute seminal CD is now in stores, and can also be ordered at www.ChabadMusic.com.